Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cancelled elections in eight of the 23 local councils in the Rivers State rerun exercise, even as the electoral umpire says it is also reviewing what happened in more local council areas. This is as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is picking victories in the few results so far released.
On Sunday, INEC’s Aniedi Ikoiwak announced the cancellation of results in two more LGAs (Etche and Asari Toru), saying violence and malpractices were rife there too. The Commission had on Saturday suspended poll in six local government areas citing electoral violence and irregularities.
INEC said it was reviewing the entire election in the state and would make its stand public in due course. Supporters of the two rival political parties (PDP and APC) enacted widespread violence, ballot box snatching as well as intimidation of voters, among other irregularities.
INEC had earlier suspended elections in Gokana, Khana, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme and Tai due to irregularities. The elections went ahead in the remaining 17 of 23 local government areas going to the polls.
There was hype of fake soldiers and fake results sheets even before election day. Supporters were asked to be extra vigilante. INEC said some party agents had attacked electoral officials after accusing them of using fake election materials for the vote, but Ikoiwak told reporters the allegation was untrue. “All election materials used by INEC are genuine. A new date will be announced for the election.”
Reports of deaths have been denied by the police in the state capital. The deaths were reported in Abalama in Asari Toru Local Government Area, Eleme in Eleme LGA, Nonwa in Tai LGA and Ogboloko in Abua/Odual LGA. Four people were allegedly killed at Eleme and one each in Tai and Ogboloko.
Meanwhile, the PDP is winning in the few results so far declared
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