Thugs have invaded the collation center for the presidential and National Assembly elections for the Northern Senatorial District of Plateau and disrupted the result collation process
Thugs invaded the venue on Monday and chased away the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others ad hoc staff of the commission and halted the process.
Trouble started when the returning officer for the Jos North/Bassa constituency election, Nehemiah Sanda, asked party agents to sign the collated results.
The results indicated that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Musa Agah, scored the highest votes.
The Returning Officer for the Presidential election for Jos North local government area, Dr. Lazurus Maigoro, confirmed the incident.
He explained that the situation had generated serious tension at the collation center, adding that thugs hindered the announcement of results for the constituency election and that of the Senatorial District.
“Yes, it is true that thugs invaded our collation center while we were doing our job. It is now up to the INEC to know what to do next”, he said.
Dr. Oliver Agundu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, who also confirmed the incident, said he was yet to receive a proper briefing on the matter.
”I wasn’t at the scene of the incident and I have been busy with the collation of results for the presidential elections in the state.
”But I will meet with my officer’s concern, get a proper briefing and then act accordingly.
”But I wa tont assure the people of Plateau that athe s electoral umpire, we will not do anything that will sabotage thpeacefulul nature of the state ,”he said
However, Rep. Dachung Bagos (PDP-Jos South/Jos East) has called on INEC to declare the results within 24 hours to avert any situation that would lead tan o impending crisis in Jos anits d environs
”Elections in Jos North/Bassa constituency were held peacefully and results were equally collate peaceful manner.
”I think declaring the winner of the election should not generate any tensin, because all electoral processes werdulyly followed.
”So, I urge INEC to announce the results fothe r constituency and that othe f northern senatorial district within the next 24 hours,” he called. (NAN)
