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Tuesday 14 April 2015

‘We can’t cancel Rivers, Akwa Ibom polls,’ INEC says


Several allegations of malpractice have been made concerning the elections in both states and a group of international observers urged that the April 11 polls be cancelled.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it has no authority to nullify the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections which held in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

Several allegations of malpractice have been made concerning the elections in both states and a group of international observers urged that the April 11 polls be cancelled.

However, Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega stated that the aggrieved persons were not following the right channel to air their misgivings.


Idowu said further that once results had been announced by the commission, only election petition tribunals could cancel and order fresh polls.

“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 cancelled the elections. We would advise anyone who is aggrieved to go to the court,” Idowu told Punch.

Jega had earlier advised persons who were dissatisfied with the conduct and outcome of the elections to make their complaints to the election tribunals.


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