No Rivers rerun without guaranteed security, INEC vows

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared yesterday that there would be no fresh polls in Rivers State until there the security and safety of life and property can be guaranteed.

The commission which is still smarting from the violence that marred last week’s National/State legislative re-run elections in the state said it would conduct fresh elections in areas where voting was disrupted during the rerun,under no circumstance would it expose anyone’s life to risk in the name of election.

A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member on election duties during the rerun,Okonta Samuel Dumebi was shot dead during the violence.

He was one of the several so killed.

“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,” INEC’s Director of Voters’ Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said in a statement.

“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,” INEC said.

The Commission restated its decision to uphold the declarations and returns made in the Federal and State Constituencies where the exercise had been concluded,adding:“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 said.

It acknowledged 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 but insisted that no fake result sheet was used as alleged by PDP and APC.

INEC condemned the violence that characterised the elections,saying:“The Commission condemns in no uncertain terms all those who have been spewing hate speeches and making incendiary statements, which no doubt exacerbated an already tense situation.

“It will like to again commiserate with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the family, friends and colleagues of Samuel Dumebi Okonta, the Corps member who unfortunately lost his life in this patriotic service as a poll official. May his soul rest in peace.”