Why INEC Cancelled Re-run Vote In Parts Of Rivers

Nigeria's electoral body INEC on Saturday
cancelled a re-run of disputed elections in six
local government areas in the volatile
southern oil-rich Rivers state because of
irregularities.
The re-run for seats in the Rivers state
assembly and the national assembly in Abuja
became necessary after court rulings on
challenges to the initial results of last year
elections.
Rivers electoral commissioner Aneidi
Ikoiwak told reporters in Port Harcourt, the
state capital, that polls were suspended in
Gokana, Khana, Andoni, Bonny, Eleme and
Tai due to "irregularities" during Saturday's
voting.
The elections went ahead in the remaining 17
of 23 local government areas going to the
polls.
The official said some party agents had
attacked electoral officials after accusing
them of using fake election materials for the
vote.
"This allegation is untrue. All election
materials used by INEC are genuine. A new
date will be announced for the election," he
said.
Local media said the polls were marred by
violence in some areas, with at least four
people being killed, but the police said
nobody had died.
"There were some skirmishes here and there
and we have contained the situation. At least
12 suspects are in our custody," state police
spokesman Ahmad Muhammad told AFP.
Rivers state has long been a flashpoint for
political violence with the two leading parties
– the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All
Progressives Congress (APC) trading blame.
PDP controls the oil-rich state but the APC-led
central government in Abuja seeks to oust it
from power.
Tight security had been ordered for
Saturday's polls, including movement
restrictions and a ban on speedboats.
On Thursday, the military said suspected sea
pirates killed two soldiers in a gun battle, as
tensions rose ahead of Saturday's polls.
Dozens of people were killed in the run-up to
last year's general election in the state
condemned by local and international
observers as marred by violence and
irregularities.
Rivers and the Niger Delta region were
plagued in the 2000s by rebels who attacked
oil pipelines and kidnapped workers as part
of a campaign for a fairer share of crude
revenues. Vanguard