INEC Confirms Death of Ad-hoc Staff in Rivers

Matilda Omonaiye/

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the killing of an ad hoc electoral officer, Ms Ibisiki Amachree, by a stray bullet in Rivers State.

The chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this during a press briefing held at the National Collation Centre in Abuja today.

Yakubu described the incident, which happened on Saturday during the presidential and National Assembly polls, as “serious fatality in Rivers State,” without giving further details.

He disclosed that another INEC employee was arrested by security agencies over alleged infractions in the presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday.

He also promised that the Commission would review the performance of security agencies after the elections and see how to improve on its security architecture.

According to him, voting has either started or has been concluded today in some places in Abia, Bayelsa, Benue, Bayelsa and Gombe states where there had been malfunctioning of smart card readers.

Yakubu stated: “In Imo, one of our Electoral Officers have been handed to the Police. Investigation is ongoing, but his offences have something to do with infractions in the elections held on Saturday.

“We are also awaiting reports from Imo, and some parts of Lagos, particularly Okota; and also Osun state and we have lodged a complaint with security agencies.

“We have recorded serious fatality in Rivers State and one of our ad hoc staff (Ms. Ibisiki Amachree) was killed by alleged stray bullet.

“This is not the right time for postmortem. This is not the right time to assess institutions and security agencies. We will review the situations after the elections and see how to improve on our security architecture.”

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