Gunmen have kidnapped the Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), Prof. George Chima, at his residence in Okigwe, Imo State.
According to reports, the armed men stormed Prof. Chima’s home while he was hosting lecturers from Abia State University, Uturu. Eyewitnesses said the assailants initially tried to abduct him using his personal vehicle, which his driver was washing at the time. However, their plan was thwarted when the car refused to start.
Determined to carry out their mission, the kidnappers reportedly hijacked a passing vehicle carrying logs of wood and fled with the ABSIEC chairman.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Abia State Police Command told SaharaReporters that investigations were underway and promised to provide updates soon.
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Prof. Chima, a key electoral official in Abia State, conducted the local government elections in November 2024, which produced unexpected results. The ruling Labour Party (LP) failed to secure any local government chairmanship positions, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) won 15 seats and the Young Progressive Party (YPP) took two seats.
At the time, Chima had urged both winners and losers to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship, while commending security agencies for maintaining order during the elections.
Authorities are yet to provide further details on efforts to secure his release, as the incident raises concerns over the security situation in the region.