Ogoja Police Detain Inec Workers Over A Missing Declaration Form.

A “Declaration Form” is allegedly missing, leading to the detention of certain Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) personnel at the commission’s Ogoja, Cross River headquarters.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), problems began when Sen. Jarigbe Agom-Jarigbe was declared the victor of the Cross River North senatorial district election but was unable to get the “Declaration Form” upon request.

Although the one intended for the senator-elect was not easily accessible, the Ogoja Electoral Officer, Mr. Peter Kolo, attempted to persuade the senator that it will be provided later.

But, this incensed the senator’s followers, who demanded that it be provided right now or nobody would be permitted to leave the office premises.

When contacted by phone, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Gabriel Yomere, said that the form had been received with other election documents.

But, Agom-supporters Jarigbe’s stopped the compound’s entrance and said that no staff members would be let to leave until the Declaration Form was given to the senator-elect.

According to NAN, the problem, which arose about 3:05 a.m., had not yet been resolved when this report was sent.

Agom-Jarigbe, meantime, beat All Progressives Congress (APC) governor Ben Ayade for the Cross River North senatorial seat.

In the election held on Saturday, the candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party won with 76,145 votes against the governor’s 56,595 votes.