By Joy Yesufu
A stakeholders’ engagement convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Asaba, Delta State, was disrupted on Thursday when a group of youths stormed the venue to protest against what they described as an “AI-generated voters’ register”.
The meeting, organised to promote dialogue among electoral officials, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders, was brought to an abrupt halt as the protesters chanted slogans and demanded explanations from the commission.
Eyewitnesses said the situation became tense as security personnel struggled to control the crowd, forcing participants to abandon the engagement.
The disruption reportedly forced electoral officials and other participants to seek safety, while security operatives moved to prevent a possible confrontation.
The Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was also reportedly escorted out of the venue through a rear exit as security personnel worked to restore order.
The protesters were said to have warned against any action they believed could undermine the credibility of the electoral process, calling on INEC to ensure transparency and protect public confidence in the country’s democracy.
However, as of the time of filing this report, INEC had yet to issue an official statement on the disruption or respond to the allegations raised by the protesters.
Security operatives later restored calm around the venue, while some stakeholders expressed concern over the incident and urged all parties to embrace dialogue and lawful means of addressing electoral concerns.
