Umuahia, Abia State capital yesterday witnessed mass protest by youths, who expressed anger over the continued delay in announcing winners of the National Assembly elections held last Saturday in Abia North Senatorial District.

As at Press time, the results of the Senatorial and House of Representatives polls in Abia North were yet to be announced and the youths alleged what was happening was a rigging-induced delay.

After marching through some major streets of Umuahia, the youths, in their hundreds, stormed the Independent National; Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Umuahia, demanding for immediate release of the Abia North NASS election results.

Inscriptions on the placards carried by the protesters read: “Abians collectively say no to manipulated mass rigging”, “LG headquarters are official rigging centres”, “We want our votes to count”, “INEC, there is God”, “If INEC fails, we will seek remedy at the tribunals”, among others.

An Abia youth leader, Johnson Ndukwe, told newsmen that the youths smelt that manipulations were in progress which would lead to manipulations.

“Abia youths know who they voted for and results should reflect the voting pattern,” Ndukwe said.

Another youth leader, Chief Nkem Nwosu, who addressed the angry youths after he said he has delivered the document containing the grievances of the youths to Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Selina Oko, said he received assurances that their letter would receive adequate attention.

“We are happy that our youths have come out en masse to demonstrate. For doing what you have done, it shows that our people are now growing in political awareness. Please, disperse in peace and ensure that the demonstration doesn’t turn violent,” he told the youths.

“We have articulated our grievances and advised the REC on what to do and she assured that we will receive our response without delay,” Nwosu said.

However, his pleas fell on deaf ears as the protesters continued to shout and call for instant justice while the security personnel invited took positions to prevent aggravation of the matter.

•Photo shows some of the protesting youths.

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