Imufu community in the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State is gripped with tension as voters express their discontent over missing election result sheets in five polling units with over 6,000 voters. Despite repeated assurances from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about its preparedness for the re-run elections, materials were delayed in several polling units, aggravating the situation.
INEC polling officers, arriving late in many polling units, faced the challenge of not having result sheets, particularly in polling units with a substantial number of voters. The affected polling units in Umuitodo Ward 3, where election result sheets are reportedly missing, include Polling Unit 010 in Okpaligbo, Polling Units 003, 004, and 005 at Central Primary School Imufu, and Umu-Osia polling unit.
William Itodo, the local government chairman and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, lost his polling unit to the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections. Community leader Emeka Madu revealed that the residents are protesting, refusing to vote until result sheets are provided. Police reportedly arrested INEC polling officers in Umu-Osia and Imufu and took them for questioning regarding the missing result sheets.
As of the report, election activities had not commenced in the affected areas. INEC had previously stated its readiness, with over 95% preparation for the re-run elections in two constituencies within Enugu State, as ordered by the Court of Appeal. The deployment included over 700 staff, ad hoc personnel, and 700 armed security personnel for the smooth conduct of the re-run.
