INEC rules out total cancellation of Rivers rerun

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out total cancellation of the rerun elections in Rivers State, saying it stands by its earlier resolve to uphold the declarations and returns made in the federal and state constituencies where the March 19 rerun elections were held.
The commission also said it would only conduct fresh elections in local governments, constituencies polling units where the exercise was disrupted before the exercise was concluded. These were some of the decisions reached following a meeting between the commission, Rivers resident electoral commissioner as well as supervisors and monitors who took part in the violence ridden rerun.
INEC’s director voter education and publicity, OluwoleOsaze-Uzzi, who made the commission’s decision known after the meeting yesterday, said INEC would also conclude and make returns in constituencies where it was satisfied that voting and collation were done in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.
Reiterating the commission’s commitment to conducting fair and credible elections, Uzzi , however, said INEC  has resolved not to return to Rivers or anywhere else to conduct elections where there was breakdown in conducting elections until there was a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of credible elections.
While denying allegations that there were fake result sheets or fake materials used in the conduct of the Rivers rerun elections, Uzzi assured that the materials used for the conduct of the polls which were not destroyed by hoodlums were safe and in secure custody.