Blackout as collation begins in Anambra LG

3rd February 2024

 Security personnel completely blocked the entrance and surrounding premises of the Nnewi North Local Government headquarters, acting as the collation center for the rerun election of Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo Federal Constituencies in Anambra State. RALD News Media reports that this measure was enforced around 7 pm on Saturday.

During the collation process, it was observed by our correspondent that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of Anambra South, Peter Uzokwe, the candidate of the Young Progressive Party, and several other party agents and candidates were denied access by the security personnel. This led to a heated exchange between locked-out party officials and security operatives, including some INEC officials, creating a scene around the secretariat premises.

The situation escalated as journalists and election observers found themselves locked inside with no permission to leave or enter. Collation proceedings commenced at approximately 7:15 pm in complete darkness, as a power outage occurred at the secretariat. Returning officers and other INEC officials resorted to using their phone torch lights as a makeshift power supply for the collation room.

By 8:20 pm, the Electoral Officer emerged from the collation room, expressing frustration due to the lack of light. However, a soldier persuaded him to return so they could continue using their phone torch lights for collation. As of the latest update at 8:46 pm, the Electoral Officer was consulting with electoral officials to determine whether to proceed with the collation, while some party officials remained locked outside.

The rerun election covered five polling units in Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo Federal Constituencies. Additionally, it included 16 polling units in Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area, to determine the winner of the Orumba North and Orumba South federal constituency. Furthermore, five polling units in Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area, were part of the election to decide the winner of Nnewi North and Nnewi South and Ekwusigo federal constituencies. The affected polling units in Nnewi North had 97,438 registered voters, while Orumba North had 161,914 voters.Security personnel completely blocked the entrance and surrounding premises of the Nnewi North Local Government headquarters, acting as the collation center for the rerun election of Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo Federal Constituencies in Anambra State. RALD News Media reports that this measure was enforced around 7 pm on Saturday.

During the collation process, it was observed by our correspondent that Senator Ifeanyi Ubah of Anambra South, Peter Uzokwe, the candidate of the Young Progressive Party, and several other party agents and candidates were denied access by the security personnel. This led to a heated exchange between locked-out party officials and security operatives, including some INEC officials, creating a scene around the secretariat premises.

The situation escalated as journalists and election observers found themselves locked inside with no permission to leave or enter. Collation proceedings commenced at approximately 7:15 pm in complete darkness, as a power outage occurred at the secretariat. Returning officers and other INEC officials resorted to using their phone torch lights as a makeshift power supply for the collation room.

By 8:20 pm, the Electoral Officer emerged from the collation room, expressing frustration due to the lack of light. However, a soldier persuaded him to return so they could continue using their phone torch lights for collation. As of the latest update at 8:46 pm, the Electoral Officer was consulting with electoral officials to determine whether to proceed with the collation, while some party officials remained locked outside.

The rerun election covered five polling units in Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo Federal Constituencies. Additionally, it included 16 polling units in Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area, to determine the winner of the Orumba North and Orumba South federal constituency. Furthermore, five polling units in Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area, were part of the election to decide the winner of Nnewi North and Nnewi South and Ekwusigo federal constituencies. The affected polling units in Nnewi North had 97,438 registered voters, while Orumba North had 161,914 voters.