INEC halts further action on Rivers rerun elections

Following widespread violence and disruptions, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, last night suspended further action on National and state assembly rerun elections in Rivers State.

According to INEC, the action became necessary because several permanent and ad hoc officials had been attacked while some were abducted and taken to unknown destinations.

The electoral body also said that it had only been able to collate and declare results in one federal and nine state constituencies because of the tense atmosphere. Adding however that the suspension does not affect the constituencies where the process has been completed and the results declared by the Returning Officers.

The suspension was announced Sunday night in a statement by INEC’s Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Oluwole Osaze- Uzzi.

The statement reads in part that “Rather unfortunately, some of these elections witnessed the disruption of the process, including the barricading of some of the INEC Local Government offices and Registration Area Centres (RACs) used for the distribution of Electoral materials which led to the late commencement of the exercise in some places and consequently, its smooth take off.

Read also: Drama as Wike, Amaechi appear at police station over ‘missing’ INEC staff

 “Of more serious concern was the level of threats, violence and intimidation of election officials and voters by well armed thugs and miscreants allegedly acting on behalf of some politicians, which marred the elections in some areas.

“There were reports of numerous attacks resulting in fatalities, kidnappings, ballot snatching, diversion of officials and materials, amongst others, which necessitated its suspension in 8 Local Government Areas.

“Having reviewed the situation, the Commission is compelled to suspend all further action concerning the exercise in all the other constituencies in the state pending the receipt of a comprehensive report from its Field Officials and Monitors.”

It would be recalled that the electoral body had earlier  suspended elections in eight of the 23 local government areas of the state due to widespread violence and disruptions.

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