WARRI – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has barred journalists and observers who came to monitor the collation of yesterday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections results from gaining access in to collation center at the Commission’s office at Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.

Despite very heavy presence of security operatives made up of a special team of mobile policemen and soldiers, positioned at the three access points to the center.

All three routes from Post Office road, Olotu street and Oteri road, are being manned by stern looking security operatives who only allow INEC staff, security operatives and journalists into the area which also plays host to the Ughelli ‘A’ division police station and Ughelli Police Area Command headquarters.

However, efforts to gain access into the collation center by journalists who got to the venue as early as 9a.m were restricted by the Electoral Officer, EO in charge of the center, Andrew Akhigbe.

Giving reasons for his actions at about 11a.m, the Electoral Officer said, “We are still collating results and can’t afford to allow you be inside here for now.

Quite contradictory is the fact that , same INEC that accredited journalists and observers to monitor the elections are the same people barring them from doing the job they were accredited to do. One one agent from each party was allowed in.

There are however insinuations that something might be fishing, calling for questioning the fairness, transparency and credibility of the elections from that axis.