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RIVERS: APC, PDP trade blames as INEC suspends bye-election

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Not oil money but lack of true federalism that holds Nigeria down

The House of Assembly bye-election for the Port Harcourt Constituency 3 seat, which was allegedly marred by cases of shooting and ballot snatching on Saturday August 18, has been suspended by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The two major parties in the election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have accused each other of being behind the violence that led to the poll being cancelled by the electoral umpire.

The bye-election came after Victor Ihunwo, who was occupying the position left to contest a local government chairmanship election which led to the seat being declared vacant.

However, during the bye-election on Saturday, thugs and other miscreants, allegedly accompanied by armed security operatives where reported to have disrupted the process.

Announcing the development in a statement signed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Effanga, on Saturday INEC said: “It would be recalled that the Port Harcourt 3 State Constituency bye-election was scheduled for today August 18, 2018. The commission in full readiness for the said election deployed personnel and materials to the 142 polling units involved.

“The election commenced peacefully in all the units with all the INEC personnel (ad-hoc and permanent) with all their materials reporting to their duty posts well ahead of time.

“However, midway into the elections, miscreants and hoodlums accompanied by heavily armed security personnel in uniform stormed the various polling units and registration areas disrupting voting activities, destroying and carting away election materials including Smart Card Readers (SCR) and ballot boxes. In addition many electoral officials were manhandled, injured and held hostage.

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“As a result of this widespread and wanton disruption of the electoral process as reported from field by the supervisory presiding officers and supervisors from the commission and also, having reviewed the situation, the commission in accordance with the provisions of Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) has decided to suspend the elections forthwith.”

Meanwhile the state chapter PDP in its reaction, said that APC used Special Anti-Robbery Squad to unleash terror and create fear in the minds of voters, while the APC on the other hand claimed a top official of the state government led armed policemen to cart away electoral materials, rig and cause general disruption in the Saturday PHALGA 3 State Constituency election.

 

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