Five ad-hoc officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo were arrested for thumb-printing ballot papers in today’s governorship re-run election in the state.

The officials were arrested at Omuma Primary School in Oru East local government following an order by Mr Mike Igini, one of the resident electoral commissioners deployed to Imo for the election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Dr Gabriel Ada, who confirmed the arrest, said that the officials were already in police custody.

Ada said the ad-hoc workers connived with agents of a political party to thumb-print ballot papers leading to their arrest.

In the same vein, the election has been cancelled in Ozuh Primary School, Omuma, following the arrest of 25 persons claiming to be INEC officials by military men.

The arrested persons and the election materials in their possession were taken to the Oru East local government headquarters.

Across the border in Abia State, the governorship and State Assembly supplementary elections witnessed an appreciable turnout of voters in several polling units.

The exercise commenced around 8:30 a.m. with the arrival of electoral officers and materials at some of the polling centres in the area.

Accreditation of voters started at about 9:00 a.m. at units 006 and 007 Ibeku East, situated at Isieke Community Primary School, Umuahia, while the exercise commenced at about 8.30 at units 004 and 005 at Lagoro Ubakala Primary School, Apunmiri.

Card readers were deployed in the accreditation process and were reportedly functional, taking an average of two to three minutes to accredit a voter.

Some of the voters expressed satisfaction with the process of accreditation, describing it as faster than in the general elections.

There were, however, reports of pockets of violence in some of the wards, including Mbom in Umuahia North Local Government Area, where thugs allegedly attacked eligible voters.

An agent of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Obinna Abariukwu, told NAN on telephone that thugs invaded Isieke ward.

He said that an unidentified voter, who was wounded by the thugs, had been rushed to a hospital through the intervention of the security agents at the centre.

The police could not be reached for confirmation as the Commissioner, Mr Joshak Habila, and the Abia command’s spokesman, Mr Ezekiel Onyeke, did not pick their calls.

Meanwhile, voting commenced at some of the polling centres, including Lagoro Ubakala and LA Umuosu Ubakala at about 1:15 p.m. and 1:45 p.m., respectively. There was also heavy presence of security men at the polling centres.

Up North, Taraba State has concluded the conduct of the supplementary governorship election in an atmosphere described as peaceful.

The elections were held in 10 local government areas of Bali Zing, Takum, Yorro, Donga, Wukari, Ussa, Karim Lamido, Kurmi and Jalingo.

The exercise held in 159 polling units with a potential 127,125 registered voters expected to exercise their franchise.

INEC had declared the April 11 nationwide polls inconclusive in Abia, Imo and Taraba states. The new governors for the three states are expected to be known by tomorrow.

•Photo shows INEC chief Mike Igini, who nabbed the ad-hoc staff.

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