The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it would have to conduct fresh polls in all the areas where it suspended the electoral process in Rivers state due to the violence and criminality that characterized the elections over the weekend. Resulting from the widespread violence and electoral irregularities.
INEC also confirmed on Monday that one of its ad hoc staff, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Mr. Samuel Dumebi Okonta, was killed during the exercise.
INEC’s announcement coincided with that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which said the conduct of INEC and security operatives of the Federal Government in Saturday’s elections in Rivers state fell short of expected standards, given the level of mobilization and preparedness.
On Sunday, INEC released the results of nine state constituencies and one federal constituency in which rerun elections were held in Rivers state, but suspended the electoral process in all other constituencies in the state where results were not announced, blaming its action on the widespread violence that marred the election.