Daud Olatunji
The Imo State Collation Centre in Owerri, the state capital, descended into chaos on Sunday as tensions among party agents reached a boiling point, culminating in a violent brawl that disrupted the already tumultuous collation process.
The collation, presided over by Prof Abayomi Fasina, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University in Oye, Ekiti, began in the early hours of Sunday at 2:40 am. The entire process had been marked by protests and controversies from party agents since its inception.
As the night progressed and the collation continued, frustration and impatience mounted among the party agents, with one of them audibly questioning, “Where are we rushing to?” It was in this charged atmosphere that a physical altercation erupted between two unidentified party agents, leading to their immediate removal from the venue.
The exact identities of the individuals involved in the violent altercation could not be ascertained as of the time of reporting. However, eyewitnesses at the scene described the brawl as a chaotic and alarming spectacle, with onlookers attempting to separate the warring agents.
This incident has added another layer of uncertainty and tension to an already contentious collation process, raising concerns about the ability of the Imo State electoral system to conduct a fair and peaceful election.
Security personnel have since been deployed to the Collation Centre to maintain order and ensure the safety of all participants.
The Imo State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has yet to comment on the situation, but citizens and political stakeholders anxiously await updates on the status of the collation process and the ongoing investigation into the violent clash.
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