Prof. Francis Ezeonu, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Imo has declared
that the Commission will cancel elections in wards with irregularities
adding that areas where ballot boxes were seized or where voting was
marred by any violence would be voided.
The electoral commissioner said this on Friday while carrying out
sensitisation campaign in Aboh Mbaise Local Government area of Imo
declaring that INEC was prepared for free and fair elections devoid of
violence and intimidation and urged stakeholders to cooperate with the
commission to achieve this objective.
“INEC will not accept results in areas where ballot papers or boxes
are carted away by hoodlums or any group or individuals. Election in
that area will be cancelled,” he stated.
“What INEC needs is cooperation from members of the community. If INEC
does not receive cooperation of people in the communities, things will
not be okay. I advise politicians and stakeholders to play by the
rules and play good politics.”
Ezeonu reiterated the commitment of INEC to conduct credible polls in
the fourth coming general elections and urged politicians to always
ensure their followers enjoyed dividends of democracy to pave way for
their re-election.
The electoral commissioner advised the people of Aboh Mbaise to ensure
that all eligible voters in the area got their PVCs and went out and
vote during election promising that the state INEC would ensure that
all eligible voters registered through provision of more registration
machines and re-visiting places where people were yet to be captured.
He said election in Nigeria would no longer be business as usual,
adding that INEC was tightening its ropes against all aspects of
rigging.
