There have been protests by the youths in Abia state over what many feel to be a miscarriage of the electoral process. The staff of the Independent Electoral Commission have postponed the collating of votes till today after announcing ten out of seventeen local governments in the state.
The returning officer Nnenna Oti assured the people and various political parties of a level playing field, saying, “I have dedicated my adult life in the pursuit of the lofty ideals of good governance. I believe Nigeria must get it right, and we must move forward. So everything we do today, under my watch, will represent the people’s voice,” but that seems to have fallen on deaf ears as a trust for the electoral body and process has waned recently.
Ekejiuba Daberechi, a member of the Progressives Abia Youth, said in an interview
we did not act outside the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but unfortunately thugs loyal to the People’s Democratic Party attacked us at the venue, they destroyed our materials, threatened the youth who came out to vote, but we did not portray any form of violence.
