Similarly, electoral materials were diverted at the Ndiuluokwu/Umuowere ward in Oguta LGA, and no election was held in the seven booths. The development has raised concerns about the credibility of the polls, with some political parties and stakeholders calling for an investigation into the incidents.
Reacting to the development, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, confirmed that some INEC officials were kidnapped during the polls. He, however, assured that the commission had made alternative arrangements for the conduct of the election in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, in some parts of the state, the election went smoothly, with voters coming out en masse to exercise their franchise. In Okigwe South, for instance, voters commended the peaceful conduct of the election, with some describing the process as "orderly and transparent."
Also, in Mbaise, there was a massive turnout of voters, with many of them arriving at the polling stations before the official start of the election. However, there were reports of vote-buying in some areas, with some political parties allegedly offering money to voters in exchange for their votes.
The gubernatorial election in Imo State is keenly contested, with the incumbent governor, Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking reelection. His primary challenger is the state's former governor, Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The election outcome remains uncertain with the reported cases of violence and electoral malpractice in some areas. However, the security agencies have assured the public of their readiness to ensure a peaceful and violence-free electoral process.
It is hoped that the electoral body and the relevant authorities will take urgent steps to address the issues that arose during the election and ensure that the people's will prevails. The successful conduct of free, fair and credible elections is critical to sustaining democracy and good governance in Nigeria.