Tension in Asaba as Angry Youths Disrupt INEC Stakeholders’ Meeting

A stakeholders’ engagement convened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Asaba, Delta State, was disrupted on Thursday after angry youths reportedly stormed the venue to protest against what they described as the introduction of an “AI-generated voters’ register”.

The meeting, which was 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 INEC.

Eyewitnesses said the situation quickly became tense as security personnel struggled to control the crowd, forcing participants to abandon the meeting.

The disruption also reportedly forced electoral officials to seek safety, while security operatives moved to prevent a possible confrontation.

According to witnesses, the Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was escorted out of the venue through a back exit as security personnel worked to restore order.

The protesters reportedly warned against any action they believed could undermine the credibility of the electoral process, urging INEC to ensure transparency and protect public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.

However, as of the time of filing this report, INEC had not issued an official statement on the disruption or addressed the allegations raised by the protesters.

Security operatives later restored calm around the venue, while some stakeholders expressed concern over the incident and called on all parties to embrace dialogue and lawful engagement in addressing electoral issues.

The incident has drawn attention to public concerns surrounding electoral reforms and the need for transparency, accountability and confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.