We’re Not In A Haste To Conclude Rivers Re-run Polls, Says INEC

INEC-RiversThe Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday said it was not in a haste to conclude the legislative re-run elections in Rivers State.
The decision not to hasten the conclusion of the re-run elections is due to non-compliance with conditions set by the commission for it to return to the state.
Since the March 19 polls, which were marred by large-scale violence and electoral malpractices, INEC had said it would no longer risk the lives of its personnel and other stakeholders by venturing into areas that are prone to electoral violence.
The re-run elections in the state claimed the life of INEC ad-hoc staff and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, who have since been buried.
Following the decision to steer clear of Rivers until the situation is conducive, results have only been collated and declared in one federal and nine state constituencies where the disruption and malpractices were not so pronounced out of 37 senatorial, federal and state constituencies where the Court of Appeal ordered re-run elections to take place.
Reiterating its earlier decision to stay away from Rivers, INEC’s Director in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzi said “We gave certain conditions and they have not been met. Once the conditions are met, INEC would sit and decide on a date”.