Friday Olokor, Abuja
AN Electoral Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission has been arrested by security agencies over alleged infractions in the presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday.
The commission also confirmed that it had recorded “serious fatalities in Rivers State”, and would review the performance of security agencies after the elections and see how to improve on its security architecture.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, stated these during a press briefing held at the National Collation Centre in Abuja on Sunday.
According to him, voting had either started or been concluded in some places in Abia, Bayelsa, Benue, Bayelsa and Gombe states where smart card readers malfunctioned.
Yakubu said, “In Imo, one of our electoral officers have been handed over to the police. Investigation is ongoing but his offences have to do with infractions in the elections held on Saturday. We are also awaiting reports from Imo and some parts of Osun and Lagos states, particularly Okota in Lagos. We have lodged a complaint with security agencies.
“We have recorded serious fatalites in Rivers State and one of our ad hoc staff members (Ms Ibisiki Amachree) was killed by alleged stray bullet. This is not the right time for a post-mortem. This is not the right time to assess institutions and security agencies. We will review the situation after the elections and see how to improve on our security architecture.”
The INEC chairman also said he was not aware that voters were not allowed to exercise their civic duties in Sabon-Gari area of Kano.
