logo
- Stakeholders scamper for safety
- Election aborted, no winner emerged
By John Egie
Pandemonium trailed the expected conduct of primary election of House of Reps aspirants of APC in Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency, Saturday, May 16, 2026 leaving the election aborted and with no winner emerging.
The ensuing confusion left the APC Returning Officer (R.O) for the Constituency, Dr Godwin Adolor and his team scampering for safety following out break of violence staged by members of the party in protest of observed irregularities and attempt to disenfranchise some of them.
The R.O. who arrived late (4pm) to the venue of the primary election apologised for his late arrival which he adduced to unforseen circumstances.
He assured that the primary election would be transparent, free and fair adding that the election would commence as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be represented by the local government area Electoral Officer, EO, arrived to monitor the election.
Dr Adolor then displayed naked primary election result returning sheets for the various wards and proceeded to announcing the names of the Returning Officers for each of the wards.
But the EO and other staff of INEC in the local government area were no where to be seen.
Dr Adolor went on further to reassure that as soon as the voting materials and INEC officials arrived, the voting would commence.
But following a prolong wait for the arrival of INEC officials the Bomadi Local Government Area Chairman of APC, Mr Peres Seleyeibo raised the hue on the consequences of conducting the election in the absence of INEC officials pointing out that such development would invalidate the outcome of the primary election.
At that point, the Bomadi Local Government Council Chairman, Hon Dagidi Andaye attempted to give apologies on behalf of the absentee INEC officials and his effort aimed at explaining away the lapses drew the ire of the party stakeholders and violence broke out and in the melee everyone scampered for safety.
Dr Adolor and his team members were briskly whisked out of the supposed election ground and out of harm’s way.
As at press time, no tangible and meaningful reason was given for the absence of the EO and other INEC officials and consequently the election was aborted without being conducted and with no winner emerging.
