By Sunny A. David
Operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) on Monday evening arrested the Abia State resident electoral commisioner (REC) of the Independent National Electorial Commission (INEC), Mr Chijioke Uzochukwu, for absconding from his duty post.
It was gathered that Uzochukwu was arrested after he’d gone into hiding in a hotel in Umuahia after the presidential and National Assembly elections held in Abia State.
A source told our correspondent that Uzochukwu was picked up in his hotel room after the DSS broke the door following his refusal to open it when he was asked to do so.
The source said that following the REC’s arrest, INEC’s director of administration in the state was mandated to take over the state’s election process.
The source said: “He has been in hiding and not picking calls. The national chairman has tried to reach him several times but he is not picking.
“There is confusion in Abia State, so the REC went into hiding at Hotel Royal Damgrete. The DSS broke into his room after knocking on the door several times and he refused to open. The director of admin of INEC has been asked to take over.”
It would be recalled that since after the election on Saturday, no official result has been announced in Abia State, perhaps as a result of the REC’s action.
