The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has again postponed the conduct of the legislative rerun elections in Rivers State which was initially slated for July 30.
Following the cancellation of the initial legislative election in the state due to violence, INEC had on June 20 after a meeting with relevant stakeholders, fixed June 30 as new date for the conclusion of the poll.
However, the commission in a statement signed by its Secretary, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu said the rerun poll was postponeD for the second time due to reports of violence, maiming and fatalities which caused the initial postponement of the polls in March, though no new date has been fixed.
According to the statement, the electoral body said that, “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.
“This, the commission holds, is also a collective responsibility to be borne by all political actors irrespective of political positions and affiliations. If the goal of political contests is to serve the people, then there is no greater service than ensuring, at all costs, the preservation of the lives of the people whom such services would be rendered.”
INEC further justified the cancellation of the rerun, saying it has a responsibility to ensure that voters, electoral personnel, observers and other stakeholders are protected during the fresh election.
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