It was learnt that the three local government areas are where INEC offices were razed completely, and some of the areas were still inaccessible to the Commission’s staff.

The information was revealed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state, Prof. Francis Ezeonu in Abuja during the Stakeholders’ Validation Meeting on the 2022 Revised Framework and Regulations for Voting by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Prof. Ezeonu described Njaba and Isu as the worst volatile areas in the state.

“Talking about violence and the IDPs in Imo State, I can only talk about violence-prone areas because that is what is prevalent in the state.

“In Orsu, particularly, people are no longer staying there because the area is very volatile. Orsu council has a boundary with Anambra State, especially at the Izombe axis. Our office there has been completely burnt down.

“The situation is even worse in Isu Njaba because it is a no-go area now. Our staff can no longer even go to work in that council because it is sometimes inaccessible in addition to understandable fear of the security of their lives.

“The third council is the Orlu. We are experiencing almost the same situation there. Orsu is fair compared to Isu and Njaaba that are se­riously facing security chal­lenges due to actions and inactions of gunmen.

“However, like my colleague in Zamfara said, it is not a completely bad situation because sometimes, it will improve and everywhere will look very peaceful while at other times, it will deteriorate and become very highly volatile,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu who presided over the technical session assured people that the situation will improve before the polls.