Rivers: Allegations not enough to cancel elections- Jega

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday said the petition submitted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleging electoral malpractices in Rivers State during Saturday’s presidential and national assembly elections was not enough to warrant a total cancellation of the polls.

Jega, shortly before the announcement of the results from Rivers State by the collation officer, addressed the issue which had earlier caused an uproar at the collation centre, saying the committee sent to examine the issues in the elections returned Tuesday morning with their findings.

He said, “On Sunday, before we commenced the process of collation, we received a petition from Rivers state calling for the cancellations of the elections in the state on the ground that elections did not hold.

“Strong allegations which can actually affect the integrity of the elections. In particular they made allegations of elections not holding but we have established that elections held in Rivers state.

“Also, we cannot establish any cancellations or substitution of results. Explanation given to us( by the committee) are satisfactory. On election days, its likely that people on that list may be indisposed and may not participate.

“We have no reason to believe that there was substituion that was irregular. Nevertheless, we have collected the formal list and we have it available for people that want to take the issue further (in court).”

“We do not believe that the allegations are substantial enough to cancel the elections in Rivers state. The delay of our commencement today was attributed to the fact that the commission had to meet on the matter. We would take the elections of the results in Rivers state”.

From the result announced, by the collation officer, Prof John Owuajah, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurum, APC polled  69,238, as against PDP’s 1,487,075.