The apprehension that greeted the Governorship/state House of Assembly elections in different states has calmed down.
Having cast ballot for their candidates, many voters are anxiously waiting for announcement of winners.
The voting ended by 2 p.m. in some polling units and 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. in other units depending on the time materials arrived at the units and the time accreditation of voters ended.
Unfortunately, there were reported cases of infractions in in Etim Ekpo, Essien Udim and parts of Ikot Ekpene local government areas.
Emmanuel Enoidem, the PDP National Legal Adviser and Engr. Etido Inyang, Chairman of Ibom Power Company who spoke to Straightnews team in their areas confirmed the skirmishes and called on security agents to arrest the ugly situation.
Shortly after the voting exercise, the presiding officers sorted and collated votes and later announced the results before the votes were moved to Ward Collation Centres.
By few minutes past 5 p.m. votes had been been moved to St. Michael’s Primary School, Atan Offot which houses Ward 6 Collation centre in Uyo local government area.
At the centres, INEC presiding and assistant presiding officers and ad-hoc staff guarded by security agents sorted out and collated votes at various Wards Collation Centres of the local government areas by are tidying up their votes.
On completion of the exercise at the polling and ward levels, the action has moved to the various local government headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
At the moment, collation officers are counting and confirming the votes in the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
Though hectic, the returning officers are superintend over the final collation of votes at the local government level before bundling and senindg the figures to the INEC Headquarters for final announcement and declaration of winners.
From the voting pattern and collation of figures, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is in the early many local government areas of the state.
However, All Progressives Congress, APC was said to be trailing in most polling units including ward collation centres.
In Uyo, Nsit Ibom, Onna, Etinan and Ikot Ekpene local government areas, most voters who spoke to Straightnews team in confidence were sympathetic to the PDP.
The elections were generally peaceful in many local government areas accompanied by large turn-out of voters.
More details later…
Meanwhile, report has it that soldiers monitoring the conduct of election in Ukanafun were said have killed a young man who attempted to run away with ballot box at a polling unit in Ikot Udo Ossiom Village, Ukanafun local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
Though the man was not easily identified, an eyewitness said that the person had attempted to snatch a ballot in the morning immediately it arrived from INEC, Ukanafu but was prevented by soldiers who guided the polling unit.
The man was said to have attempted to snatch a bllot and returned to snatch it.
Infuriated by his temerity, a soldier opened fire and shot him dead.
