The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ordered the suspension of further collation of last Saturday’s governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu states.

The Commission noted that its office in Obingwa local government area was invaded by thugs Sunday 19th March 2023 and “our officials held hostage in relation to the collation of results from the Local Government Area.”

The Commission also said reports from Enugu state called for a review of the results for the governorship election from the two outstanding local government areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East.

This was contained in a statement in Abuja on Monday by National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee Barrister Festus Okoye.

The statement reads: “The Commission met today, Monday 20th March 2023 and reviewed the conduct of the Governorship and State Assembly elections held nationwide on Saturday 18th March 2023.

 “Arising from the meeting, the Commission took the decision to suspend forthwith further collation of the governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu states.

“It will be recalled that our office in Obingwa Local Government Area was invaded by thugs yesterday Sunday, 19th March, 2023 and our officials held hostage in relation to the collation of results from the Local Government Area.

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has enjoined Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Ramadan on Wednesday, 22nd March.

NSCIA in a statement by the Director of Administration, Arc Zubairu Haruna on Monday said the search for the crescent of Ramadan 1444 A.H. should commence immediately after sunset on Wednesday, 29^th Sha’aban, 1444 A.H. which is equivalent to 22nd March.

“If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, then His Eminence shall declare Thursday, 23^rd March 2023 as the first day of Ramadan 1444 A.H. If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Friday, 24^th March 2023 shall automatically become the first day of Ramadan,” it added.

In a related development, NSCIA has constituted 33 members of the National Moon-Sighting Committee (NMSC) that can be contacted to report any credible and positive sighting of the crescent of Ramadan 1444 AH.

Among them are Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Sheikh Habeebullah Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory, Dr. Ganiy I. Agbaje, Sheikh Bala Lau, and Ustaz Nurudeen Ibrahim among others.

It appealed to all Muslims to be more prayerful unto Allah, especially in the month of Ramadan; for peace, stability, unity, and progress in Nigeria.

“Let those who emerged victorious in the just concluded elections remember that it is the Almighty Allah Who grants power to whom He wishes. Also, those who lost should accept the same with faith and resist any act that may cause disaffection and disunity within the Ummah.

“Council also appeals to endowed Muslims in the country to extend their acts of charity to the less privileged within their neighborhoods before, during, and after the month of Ramadan. We also admonish traders not to hoard food products or unduly hike the prices of consumer goods during the period of fasting.

“We wish all Nigerian Muslims and their counterparts all over the world a happy Ramadan in advance,” the statement said.