Rivers poll: INEC cancels results in Etche, Asaritoru LGs

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the cancellation of results in Etche and Asaritoru Local Government Areas of Rivers State.

Aniedi Ikoiwak, Resident Electoral Commissioner, disclosed this in a statement that the reason for the cancellation was due to irregularities at the affected Local Government areas.

In the statement, “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”

The electoral umpire further notes violence, snatching of ballot boxes, noncompliance to the electoral law as part of the cancellation.

Aniedi Ikoiwak, Resident Electoral Commissioner, however, said that the electoral body is reviewing the rest of the process in the re-run polls before it can determine further actions.