Again, INEC Rescheduled Lagos, Anambra and Rivers’ Elections

• Again, INEC Rescheduled Lagos, Anambra and Rivers’ Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cancelled and rescheduled elections in some parts of Lagos, Rivers and Anambra States after thugs disrupted electoral process in those regions.

INEC specifically said elections in Akuku Toru and Bonny local government areas of Rivers state, as well as some parts of Lagos and Anambra, would be conducted on a later date, saying mostly affected is the contest for the federal legislative seats.

Festus Okoye, INEC Commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, who announced the development said: “The commission has received reports of violence and ballot box snatching in some areas leading to the disruption of the process. We have asked the Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs and the Electoral Officials on ground to submit their firsthand reports in relation to some of these incidents. We are still receiving reports relating to incidences in some states of the federation but we have received reports relating to incidences in Akuku Toru and Bonny local government areas of Rivers state.

“It is not only in Rivers that we had reports of burning of electoral materials. We have such reports from Anambra and Lagos states as well as some other places.”

“So long as the commission could not deploy in these areas, the implication is that voting did not take place in those areas and the commission will hold consultations with the relevant authorities and the Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs in relation to these areas and will announce the date when polls will take place in some of these areas, especially in relation to the areas as they affect the House of Representatives and Senatorial elections”, he added.