The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared that it is ready to continue the electoral process in Rivers State soon.
The electoral process in the March 9 Governorship and House of Assembly election in the state was halted at collation stage following widespread violence.
INEC said it decided to stop the process after a consideration of field reports in line with Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and Clause 47 (e) of the Regulations and Guidelines of the Commission.
However, following the report of a committee set up to look at the issues responsible for the stoppage of the process, INEC has on Saturday resolved to continue.
It said that it would announce the date of resumption on March 20.
Disclosing the findings of its committee, INEC blamed the military for being partly responsible for the disruption that led to the stoppage of the process.
INEC also blamed some armed gangs for the disruption.
The statement giving details of the report on the Rivers election crisis as issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye, reads in full:
RIVERS STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION
- On the 10th of March 2019, the commission suspended all electoral processes in Rivers State having determined that there was widespread disruption of collation of results of the elections conducted on the 9th day of March 2019.
Subsequently, the commission set up a fact-finding committee to assess the situation and report back within 48 hours.
- The commission met on the 15th day of March 2019 and considered the report of the committee and established the following:
- That the governorship and state assembly elections took place in most of the polling units and results were announced.
- That results from 17 local governments out of 23 were available and are in the commission’s custody.
iii. That the declaration and returns for 21 state constituencies out of 32 were made prior to the suspension.
- That collation centres were invaded by some soldiers and armed gangs resulting in the intimidation and unlawful arrest of election officials thereby disrupting the collation process.
- Consequent upon the foregoing, the commission: Expresses its displeasure with the role played by some soldiers and armed gangs in Rivers State disrupting the collation process and attempting to subvert the will of the people.
- Is committed to expeditious completion of the collation process where results of the elections have been announced.
iii. Will engage the security agencies at national level and the inter-agency consultative committee at the state level to demand neutrality and professionalism of security personnel in order to secure a peaceful environment for the completion of the elections.
- Will also engage with key stakeholders in Rivers State with a view to ensuring a smooth and peaceful completion of the process.
- Will issue detailed timelines and activities for the completion of the election on Wednesday, March 20th, 2019.
Festus Okoye,
National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee
March 15, 2019.
