Scores wounded as party Agents disrupt collation of results in Imo

The final Collation of the results of the governorship election in Imo State was disrupted in the early hours of Monday by party agents.

Trouble started at about 5.10am when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Agent, Uche Onyeocha prevented the Returning Officer in charge of Ideato South Council Area from announcing the result.

Ideato South is the home Local Government Area of the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and a major stronghold of the Action Alliance.

Before the altercation, results of ten Local Government Areas had already being announced, with PDP and AA winning five LGAs each.

He alleged that the result was padded and cannot be accepted. All entreaties by the State Resisent Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, to allow the Collation to continue were rebuffed by the viciously angry PDP Agent, who tore the result sheets placed on the table.

At that point, other party agents pounced on him and there was a free for all. Journalists and other observers, who were monitoring the Collation, scampered to safety as the Police and other security agents tried to calm the situation.

The melee consequently sparked heavy fighting among the supporters of the various political parties that were camped around the INEC office throught the night.

Scores were wounded and several vehicles vandalised. As at the time of filling this report, the Collation has been suspended, while the party Agents for the PDP, Uche Onyeocha and Action Alliance (AA),  Steve Asimobi were arrested and whisked away by Policemen to an unknown location.