The Independent National Electoral Commission has suspended the ongoing re-run elections in Bonny, Andoni, Gokana, and Khana local government areas of Rivers State.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers, Aneidi Ikoiwak, who announced the cancellation attributed the decision to irregularities and violence.
Ikoiwak told newsmen in Port Harcourt some party agents attacked INEC officials for allegedly using fake election materials in their areas and described as untrue allegations that INEC sent fake election materials to some local government areas.
“All INEC materials used for the election are genuine,” he said.
The commissioner said a new date would be announced for the rerun election in the four local government areas.
There were reports of pockets of violence and ballots snatching in the elections, although the police said the poll was largely peaceful.
For instance, some thugs were said to have snatched election materials around 2.30pm at three units in WIiyaakara Ward, Khana Local Government Area.
At Bori, also in Khana, INEC officials were reportedly scared of stepping out of their offices to conduct the election because of threats from persons wearing fake military uniform.
A 14-seater bus was burnt down in Alode, Eleme Local Government Area, and there were also reports of a shoot-out in Rumuekini, Obio Akpor Local Government Area.
The Army in the state paraded some fake soldiers arrested at Khana.
Meanwhile, the state government has accused the Nigerian military of colluding with the All Progressives Congress in the state to hijack election materials.
The government in a statement said it “noted with shock and disgust the role played by the military in the reported diversion of all voting materials meant for the Isaka community, in Okrika Local Government Area.”
The government said, “This is sickening betrayal of democracy by the military, and will never be allowed to stand.”
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