.
.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has formally rejected proposals to relocate the Ideato Federal Constituency collation centre from its designated base at Urualla to another venue within Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State.
The electoral umpire reached the resolution during a management meeting held yesterday evening, putting an end to intense speculation and regulatory uncertainty surrounding the venue for the upcoming local council balloting.
Insiders familiar with the deliberations revealed that the commission reviewed previous internal security assessments and operational recommendations before arriving at the decision. Following exhaustive discussions, the management resolved to maintain the status quo, rejecting arguments that favored shifting the collation exercise away from Urualla.
The development follows weeks of growing tension and legal maneuvering over the venue. Concerned residents and political stakeholders in the constituency had earlier taken legal steps, filing a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja to halt any planned relocation. The litigants contended that moving the collation centre without broader consultation violated established procedural guidelines and rested on unsubstantiated security concerns.
With the commission officially shooting down the relocation request, the legal action appears to have achieved its intended goal. Community leaders and local observers have welcomed the decision, describing it as a victory for transparency and process integrity across the Ideato constituency.
The commission has instructed regional electoral officials to maintain standard administrative preparations at the Urualla collation facility, ensuring that field staff and security personnel remain fully aligned ahead of the polls scheduled for September 28.
