The Anambra state police command has announced the abduction of a presiding officer and a NYSC member who were both participating in the elections in the state. Disclosing this to newsmen, the Commissioner of police,  Rabiu Ladodo , said: I have gone round the State along with heads of other security agencies both on Aerial and Vehicular patrols, in order to assess levels of deployment by the security agencies at various polling units and to ensure that the electorates exercise their franchise without hindrance. The election is generally peaceful and all the places visited have witnessed significant turnout of voters amid tight security in the areas” However, despite the relative peace recorded so far, there are few isolated incidents recorded such as ballot box snatching at Onuma imeobi Square ward six unit 4 Onitsha, vote buying, disruption of election in some polling units, alleged abduction of a presiding officer and a youth corper in Indiokolo unit, Orumba Nor...

…To prosecute ad hoc staff who jettisoned Card Readers ABUJA: The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has announced the postponement of the elections in some parts of Lagos, Rivers and Anambra States following disruption of the exercise due to violence. Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Specifically, INEC said elections in Akuku Toru and Bonny local government areas of Rivers state as well as some parts of Anambra and Lagos would be conducted on a later date, saying mostly affected is the contest for the federal legislative seats. “The commission has received reports of violence and ballot box snatching in some areas leading to the disruption of the process. We have asked the Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs and the Electoral Officials on ground to submit their firsthand reports in relation to some of these incidents. We are still receiving reports relating to incidences in some states of the federatio...

The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Tuesday, said, that a total of 4,695 card readers were destroyed in the fire that gutted the containers, where they were kept at the Anambra State office. INEC also revealed that it will mop up spare card readers in other states for use in the Anambra. A statement signed by Festus Okoye, the Chairman of INEC’s committee on Information and Voter Education, reads: “While the Commission awaits the details of the latest incident, it notes with some relief that there was no fatality or injury reported. “Initial assessment, however, confirms that a total of 4,695 smart card readers were destroyed in the inferno. “While this is no doubt, a setback to our preparations, for the smooth conduct of the elections in Anambra State, the Commission has taken immediate measures to ameliorate the situation by mopping up some of the spare card readers from other states to deploy to Anambra State.”

INEC container carrying card readers on fire A container carrying card readers of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  in Anambra state, was, Tuesday, gutted by fire. According to Vanguard, the INEC officials accompanying the card readers took to their heels as the fire raged. Fire fighters could be seen from the pictures of the incident, trying to put out the fire. Below are photos of the incident: