C’River: Political thugs attack INEC collation office in Ogoja
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Political thugs and hoodlums on Sunday invaded the Independent National Electoral Commission( INEC) Collation Centre for the Ogoja State Constituency in Cross River State.
The thugs destroyed lourvers, election materials,carted away phones,beat up many ward Collation officers and disrupted the on-going collation and results announcement.
An eyewitness said trouble started when results from Nkum Irede was announced and the figures did not go down well with certain Agents, who sensing massive defeat, decided to raise alarm and invite their supporters to invade the collation centre.
The source further added that the Nkum Irede Ward result was the seventh out of the ten Political Wards in Ogoja Local Government Area,of PDP was clearly coasting to victory.
,Dr Paul Bassey Inyang, the Collation officer for Mbube East who spoke from the Police Clinic where he was receiving treatment said he thanked God for sparing his life.
Confirming the incident,the Electoral Officer for Ogoja Local Government Area,Mr Peter Kolo said the hoodlums broke all security barriers to disrupt Collation with the intent to destroy election results.
He however said the results have been recovered and the announcement will commence shortly.
The Cross River State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo confirmed the attack, adding that many of the suspected thugs have been arrested and currently being profiled.
