No Further Declaration Of Results In Rivers Rerun Until We Get Comprehensive Reports From Field Officials – Inec

Source: thewillnigeria.com

SAN FRANCISCO, March 20, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Sunday night said it is still studying Saturday's National Assembly and State Assembly rerun election in the state and would not declare results until it receives a comprehensive report from its officials and monitors on the field during the exercise.

At least four (4) persons were killed and several others wounded in the violence that marred the exercise.

INEC in a statement on Sunday night affirmed the cancellation of elections in eight (8) local government areas, adding that collation in 15 local governments were ongoing.

It had earlier declared results for one federal constituency and eight assembly seats. The commission told correspondents that the results would stand as declared.

“The suspension does not affect constituencies where the exercise has been completed and the results declared by the returning officers.”

The statement said: “Further to our earlier pronouncement on the suspension of the re-run in the six Local Government Areas of Khana, Bonny, Gokana, Andoni, Tai and Eleme, following disturbances and violence that impeded the electoral process in those parts of the state, it has become necessary to suspend elections in Etche and Asari-Toru LGAs for the same reasons.

“Please note that the suspension of the re-run elections by INEC is necessitated by the need to forestall breakdown of law and order in the event of further aggravation of crisis.

“INEC needs to put all stakeholders on notice that we are still studying the situation in the other fifteen LGAs, where collations are currently going on”.