INEC CONFIRMS BALLOT BOX SNATCHING, TORN RESULT SHEETS DURING KOGI GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION

Mr Nick Dazang, Deputy Director of Publicity of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), INEC confirms ballot box snatching, torn result sheets during Kogi Governorship Election, he said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

"The state is noted for volatility and violence but that violence did not take place. Of course, there were few challenges but not the kind of violence we anticipated," he said.

"There was also an incident in Dekina where a ballot box was snatched even when voting had not started. There was also one ward, 27, at Anyigba, where ballot and result sheets were torn, otherwise, I think the election went well," he said.

Dazang said that the incidence of violence that was anticipated during the polls was not much when compared with the cases in previous elections in the state.

"In the time past, we had situations where our staffs were abducted, people were killed. There is no incident of violence at that level; we have not heard about anybody’s death or abduction.

A source confirmed that there was an incident of ballot box snatching one unit in Itaja Ward in Ayingba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, INEC cancelled the election there saying that the outcome will not affect the general result.

It was narrated that "Accreditation was still going on when hoodlums attacked the unit and stole sensitive materials".

Resident Electoral Commissioner, Halilu Pai, confirmed the incident, but added that security agents managed to bring the situation under control.