The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will not cancel the results of the governorship and House of Assembly election in Rivers and Akwa Ibom State because it does not have the power to do so.
The European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria had called for a probe into the “severe problems” that characterised the polls in the two South- South states, where the governorship election were won by the Peoples Democratic Party.
But the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Kayode Idowu, stated that the call to cancel the results after formal declaration was misdirected.
Mr. Idowu said the Nigerian law does not allow the electoral body cancel results.
“The law does not allow us to cancel any result after it has been announced. Everyone knows this.
“It is only the election petition tribunals that can order that or even cancel the elections. We would advise anyone who is aggrieved to go to the court.“
The governorship candidate of the PDP, Udom Emmanuel, won the election in Akwa Ibom, while in Rivers, the PDP candidate, Nyesom Wike, clinched victory.
In both states, civil society groups including the Situation Room and the Centre for Democracy and Development, allege high cases of rigging and violence.
Violence
The Chief Observer of the EU Observation Mission, Santiago Fisas, had said the April 11 elections in Nigeria witnessed “more efficient polling” but had increased cases of violence and interference.
INEC, in its preliminary reports on Sunday confirmed this saying there were 66 reported cases of violence across the country.
But the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Kayode Idowu, stated that the call to cancel the results after formal declaration was misdirected.
Mr. Idowu said the Nigerian law does not allow the electoral body cancel results.
“The law does not allow us to cancel any result after it has been announced. Everyone knows this.
“It is only the election petition tribunals that can order that or even cancel the elections. We would advise anyone who is aggrieved to go to the court.“
The governorship candidate of the PDP, Udom Emmanuel, won the election in Akwa Ibom, while in Rivers, the PDP candidate, Nyesom Wike, clinched victory.
In both states, civil society groups including the Situation Room and the Centre for Democracy and Development, allege high cases of rigging and violence.
Violence
The Chief Observer of the EU Observation Mission, Santiago Fisas, had said the April 11 elections in Nigeria witnessed “more efficient polling” but had increased cases of violence and interference.
INEC, in its preliminary reports on Sunday confirmed this saying there were 66 reported cases of violence across the country.
