Abia bye-election: APC collation officer abducted as explosion rocks polling unit

Voting was disrupted at the ongoing bye-election in Abia state when an explosion occurred at the Umuola hall polling unit in ward eight.

TheCable gathered that the explosion took place on Saturday afternoon just as the voting process was going on at the unit in Aba north LGA.

This is even as Mike Ozoemena, a collation officer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election, has reportedly been abducted.

Geoffrey Ogbonna, the police spokesman in the state, said he does not have details of the incidents as of the time he was contacted by TheCable.

There has been tension regarding the election being conducted to fill the vacant seat for the Aba north-south federal constituency at the house of representatives.

It was not immediately clear the cause of the explosion but security agents have been mobilised to the scene.

Voters and observers who earlier scampered off to safety for safety have also returned to continue the voting process.

There is no official information yet on the damage caused by the explosion.

Elsewhere, gunmen were said to have whisked away Ozoemena hours before voting commenced in Aba north.

He is also the director of publicity of Mascot Uzor-Kalu, the APC candidate in the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been contacted for comments regarding the developments.