The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Rivers State as a danger zone, warning it would only conduct fresh elections or any future elections under a guaranteed security. This is coming in view of the violence, brigandage and killing that marred the March 19 rerun polls.
In a statement today, the electoral body emphasised that it would never return for the fresh polls until there is an assurance of security and safety.
INEC made it clear that it would not endanger the lives of its personnel, journalists and observers and others involved in the exercise.
“INEC will, at a date to be decided, conduct fresh elections starting with accreditation and voting in all Local Government Areas, Constituencies, Registration Areas and Polling Units where the exercise was disrupted before voting was concluded on Saturday 19th March, 2016.”
The statement, signed by INEC’s Director of Voters’ Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said that the future elections would be conducted after due consultation with parties involved, and subject to the advice of the security agencies and guarantees by the political parties, candidates and their supporters.
“While the Commission is committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections, it hereby reiterates its resolve not to return to Rivers State (or anywhere else where there was a breakdown of law and order in the cause of conducting elections) until there is a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of credible elections. As a responsible organization, it will not expose its stakeholders especially voters, its officials, observers, media personnel to any danger and even where dates have been fixed and published, it will not hesitate to again suspend the exercise where there is a clear danger or credible threat of a breakdown of law and order,”
This was even as INEC has resolved to uphold results already declared in the March 19 election, saying: “the Commission restates its earlier decision to uphold the declarations and returns made in the Federal and State Constituencies where the exercise had been concluded.
“Similarly, the Commission will conclude and make returns in constituencies where it is satisfied that voting and collation were done in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act and our Guidelines.”
INEC had since admitted that there were some challenges in its operational efficiency, especially as it concerns the production and customization of the result sheets used for the conduct of the election. It however, insisted that no fake result sheet was used, as alleged by both the PDP and the APC.
“The Commission wishes to emphatically state that there were no fake result sheets or any fake materials used in the conduct of the elections.” [myad]
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