The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has begun the collation of results for the Imo State Governorship election.
The exercise started around 2:40 am on Sunday at the collation centre in Owerri, the state capital.
The Returning Officer is Professor ABAYOMI FASINA, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State.
But there was a mild drama when the exercise began as party agents moved against the collation of the results.
Some of the agents protested the early resumption of collation, but the state Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof ABAYOMI insisted on the commencement of the collation of results for the governorship election.
The collation of results comes hours after the conclusion of the governorship election, one of the three off-season polls held in the country on Saturday.
In Imo, the election was said to be largely peaceful as voters trooped out to cast their ballots for their preferred candidates in the South-East.
Incumbent Governor HOPE UZODIMMA Hope of the All Progressives Congress,APC, is seeking a second term in office.
Labour Party’s ATHAN ACHONU and SAMUEL ANYANWU of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP are the two other major contenders for the election.
There are 27 local government areas in Imo State and the candidates are hopeful of winning the election.