The Independent National Electoral Commssion, INEC, has once again, suspended elections into federal and state Assembly in Rivers State over renewed security threats. The electoral umpire said it awaits the receipt of a comprehensive report from its Field Officials and Monitors on the state of security in the affected constituencies.
INEC said the suspension does not affect areas where the exercise has been done and the results declared by the Returning Officers. NEC’s Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, in a statement on Wednesday night said, “Pursuant to the Orders of the Court of Appeal, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted elections into various seats in both the National and the Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday, the 19th of March, 2016. “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. “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.
