INEC Cancels Supplementary Elections In Bauchi

Breaking: INEC cancels Supplementary Elections in Bauchi, to complete process in Rivers

The
Independent  National Electoral Commission, INEC, has cancelled the
earlier announced supplementary elections in Bauchi state, saying,
however, that it has approved the resumption, conclusion and
announcement of the result of the Tafawa Balewa Local Government in
relation to the Governorship election.

This was as the
commission chastised the Nigerian Army for the alleged role played by
some of its soldiers in the disruption of the electoral processes in
Rivera state, expressing it’s determination to ensure the conclusion of
the process very soon. In two separate statements issued at about
midnight on Friday in Abuja and signed by a National Commissioner,
Festus Okoye, the commission also announced the change of the Collation
Officer for Tafawa Balewa Local Government who reportedly withdrew due
to threats to her life.

The statement reads; “On the 12 day of
March 2019 the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
considered a report submitted by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for
Bauchi State on the disruption of the Collation process at the Tafawa
Balewa Collation Centre which led to the cancelation of results for the
entire Local Government.

The Commission found that there are
issues that need further investigation and set up a Committee for that
purpose: The findings of the Committee are as follows: The Governorship
and State Assembly Elections were held on the 9th March 2019 in Tafawa
Balewa Local Government Area and the votes scored by candidates were
announced at the Polling Units and collated at the 11 Registration Areas
of the Local Government. Halfway into the Local Government collation,
armed gangs attacked the collation centre and destroyed the Local
Government Result Sheet (EC8C) and some collated results from the
Registration Areas. The results of 7 out of 11 Registration Areas for
Governorship and 6 out of 11 for State Assembly elections were affected.

INEC guidelines provide that where violent disruption
affects collation in this manner, results should be regenerated from
duplicate copies on a replacement result sheet. The Collation Officer,
under pressure from Party Agents who could not wait for the arrival of a
replacement result sheet, decided to collate the result on an available
RA result sheet instead of the replacement LGA result sheet.

When
the result was presented at the State Governorship Collation Centre,
the Returning Officer rejected the regenerated result because it was on a
wrong result sheet. The Investigation Committee established that the
result in Polling Units and Registration Areas are available and in safe
custody. The Investigation Committee also established that the number
of cancelled votes for the 4 Polling Units in Ningi Local Government
Area which was recorded as 25,330 in form EC40G (1) was incorrect.

The
actual figure is 2,533. Consequently, the Commission has taken the
following decisions: Approved the resumption and conclusion of the
collation of results of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area in relation
to the Governorship election as the duplicate and original Registration
Area results are available. Approved the resumption, conclusion and
announcement of the result of the Tafawa Balewa State Constituency. The
appointment of a new Collation/Returning Officer for Tafawa Balewa Local
Government to continue and conclude the collation process in place of
the original Collation Officer who withdrew from the exercise citing
threats to her life and those of her family members. The Collation
process for Tafawa Balewa Local Government will resume on Tuesday, 19th
March 2019.

The Commission directed that the error in
the total number of cancelled votes in four polling units in Ningi Local
Government Area should be corrected from 25,330 to 2,533. The
Commission appeals to all stakeholders for continuous support and
understanding”. On Rivers, INEC said; “On the 10th of March 2019, the
Commission suspended all electoral processes in Rivers State having
determined that there was widespread disruption of collation of results
of the elections conducted on the 9th day of March 2019. Subsequently,
the Commission set up a Fact-Finding Committee to assess the situation
and report back within 48 hours. “The Commission met on the 15th day of
March 2019 and considered the report of the Committee and established
the following: That the Governorship and State Assembly elections took
place in most of the polling units and results were announced. That the
results from 17 Local Governments out of 23 are available and are in the
Commission’s custody. That the Declaration and Returns for 21 State
Constituencies out of 32 were made prior to the suspension. That
collation centres were invaded by some soldiers and armed gangs
resulting in the intimidation and unlawful arrest of election officials
thereby disrupting the collation process. “Consequent upon the
foregoing, the Commission: Expresses its displeasure with the role
played by some soldiers and armed gangs in Rivers State disrupting the
collation process and attempting to subvert the will of the people. Is
committed to expeditious completion of the collation process where
results of the elections have been announced.

Will engage the security agencies at national level and the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee at the State level to demand neutrality and professionalism of security personnel in order to secure a peaceful environment for the completion of the elections. Will also engage with key stakeholders in Rivers State with a view to ensuring a smooth and peaceful completion of the process. Will issue detailed timelines and activities for the completion of the election on Wednesday March 20th, 2019”.

Source:- Vanguardngr