INEC postpones Rivers’ rerun elections over insecurity 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the rerun elections in Rivers State earlier slated for Saturday.

This was confirmed in a statement last night by Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu.

The Prof. Mahmud Yakubu-led INEC pointed out that security report on the affected local government areas where the rerun polls were to hold indicates that the situation was not yet conducive for the elections.

The Commission, it will be recalled, had fixed July 30 for the conclusion of the court ordered rerun elections in Rivers and Kaduna states, after a stakeholders’ meeting on June 30.

The INEC’s statement however, categorically said: “Rhetoric of some political actors, the incidences of violence in number of local government areas where the elections are to hold and the atmosphere of fear and intimidation created by rhetoric and violence, all indicate a clear and present danger in proceeding with the elections as earlier scheduled.

“This situation is now further worsened by direct attacks on the Commission, of which the most recent and glaring was the burning down of INEC office in Khana local government on 22nd July, 2016.

“As a responsible organisation and conscious of the violence, maiming and fatalities which accompanied the previous election in March as well as developments in the state since then, the commission cannot ignore such credible reports.

“In the circumstances, therefore, it is compelled to further postpone the rerun legislative elections in Rivers State as one of the principal conditions earlier stipulated for the return of the state for the conclusion of the election has, regrettably, not been met”, it said.

The commission stated that it is conscious of the efforts by respected individuals, organisations and leaders to douse tension and ensure a conducive atmosphere for elections to hold.

No new date has been fixed by INEC for the rerun polls in the state.