Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu on Monday stormed the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), protesting against some issues on the governorship election.

The supporters trooped out in their numbers, not minding their social status, to protest against INEC.

INEC adjourned the process of the final collation of results and the possible announcement of the Enugu State governorship poll result by 8:00 a.m. Monday.

The PDP members in their hundreds were protesting that INEC should not delay in declaring its candidate, Peter Mbah, winner of the March 18 governorship poll since the results from the 17 local government areas had been collated.

The LP, on its own, said INEC should not declare the result following multiple irregularities, especially the alleged non-use of the Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) machine, for voting in the Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the PDP, Kennedy Iyere, an activist, said INEC should do the needful by declaring the result in favour of Mr Mbah, who stood as the leading candidate in the results entire 17 already collated.

Mr Iyere said INEC’s delay in declaring Mr Mbah the winner might threaten peace in the state.

“Since Dr Peter Mbah has the highest lawful and valid vote, he should be declared the winner without further delay.

“The opposition LP has an alternative, which is seeking redress in the court where they will lay their complaints and allegations for the court to see clearly if they even have a case in the first place.

“We all must give peace a chance. I call on INEC and LP to give peace a chance,” he said.

Speaking for the LP, Jonathan Ani said the PDP wanted to rob the LP of its victory by over bloating the figures in the Nkanu East council area, where the Electoral Act procedure for election conduct was never followed.

Mr Ani said it had been specified and stipulated by the amended electoral act that where such takes place in an election, it should be entirely cancelled.

“INEC should never go ahead to announce the result as the Nkanu East council poll needed to be cancelled.

“A fresh election conducted for the council area or scores of that council area would be entirely removed, and Dr Chijioke Edeoga declared the winner.

“We are Obidient and peace-loving party, but we will not fold our arms and allow PDP to rob us of our victory in Enugu State,” he said.

However, at the time of filing this report, INEC was yet to resume its poll collation and announcement activities as it promised by 8:00 a.m. on Monday.

(NAN)