INEC may re-conduct elections beyond Lagos, Rivers, Anambra states—Study
Strong indications have emerged suggesting that beyond Lagos, Rivers and Anambra state earlier listed for rerun due to insecurity and logistics, few more Wards in other states may be involved in the re-conduct of both Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Election Day, cancelled elections in certain parts of Lagos, Rivers, Anambra, among others, owing to violence and deaths.
However, analysts at Business Hilights Intelligence Unit (BHIU) say there are chances that more areas where elections were either inconclusive or never took place will be reported.
Besides, if there must be any re-conduct in any ward of a state; the Electoral Act provides that the collated results of that state shall remain unannounced pending the completion of the re-conduct and merging of results.
There were confirmed reports of thugs beating up voters and carting away ballot boxes in the Lagos area, and the shooting of four persons in Rivers, as the general elections in certain parts of the country devolved into theaters of war.
In Okota axis of Lagos, ballot boxes and papers were also burnt to ashes as in Polling Unit 13, Ikoyi, it was observed that House of Representatives materials never arrived.
In some areas in Nasarawa and Kaduna states, there were violence and under a guise that suggest violation of non-indigent rights and settlements.
Addressing some of these issues as observed during Saturday election in Abuja, INEC Commissioner Festus Okoye, averred that “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”.
According to him, “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.
“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.
“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”, he added.
“With regards to the challenges associated with Smart Card Readers in some polling units, most of these challenges were resolved and were resolved on time. However, it is to be noted that in the Regulations and the Guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, it was made very clear that the use of the smart card readers is mandatory.
INEC further claimed that “Therefore, no staff of the Commission or any ad hoc staff of the Commission is permitted in whatever guise to deliberately refuse to use the smart card readers for the conduct of elections. According to the Guidelines and Regulations of the Commission, it is negligent conduct for any ad hoc staff to refuse to use the smart card readers for purposes of accreditation and any of them that refused to use the smart card readers or deliberately violated the use of the smart card readers will be subject to prosecution in accordance with the Guidelines and Regulations of the Commission and the Electoral Act”.
