By Ayo Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated resolve to hold elections in some states where cases of violence and ballot boxes snatching has been received.
Disclosing this information on Saturday, the Commission noted that provisional information shows that in some parts of Rivers, Anambra and Lagos States there were cases of violence and ballot box snatching.
On this the INEC Commissioner and chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye said on Saturday;
“We received reports of violence and ballot box snatching which took place in Akokotoro and Bonny LGAs in Rivers State; and some parts of Lagos and Anambra states. We are waiting for the reports, we have told the Resident Electoral Commissioners in the states to submit reports. So long as the poll is didn’t commence, it is assumed that there was no voting.
“So, elections in these areas, especially in areas related to the House of Representatives and Senate didn’t take place and the date for the election will be decided later after we receive reports from INEC officials on ground.
Okoye who acknowledge that cases of card reader malfunction has been received, stated elections would continue the next day in the affected areas.d that any INEC official who deliberately refused to make use of the smart card readers would be prosecuted because that action contravened the electoral guidelines and provisions of the Electoral Act.
“The challenges of smart card readers have been resolved. But where they are not resolved before the closing of elections, the election will continue the next day.”
He addressed the reported cases of unused ballot, saying that all the unused ballot papers will be cancelled immediately after election.
There are indications that areas in Bayelsa may be included as there are reported protest at INEC office in Nembe where ex governor Timipriye Sylva is alleged to have used thugs to hijack electoral materials.
