This is why INEC can’t cancel Election in Akwa Ibom & Rivers

There are overwhelming evidences of rigging in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states but at this stage the hands of INEC are tired by the law; results have been announced so only the court can rule otherwise.

INEC has confirmed that it has no power to cancel results of the governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls that took place in Rivers and Akwa Ibom states last weekend.

It made this known to Punch a few hours after the European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria called for a probe of the “severe problems” that characterised the polls in the two states.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Kayode Idowu, said those calling on the commission to cancel the results were misdirecting their request.

He explained that once results had been announced by INEC , only election petition tribunals had the power to cancel and order fresh elections.

"The law does not allow us to cancel any result after it has been announced. Everyone knows this. It is only the election petition tribunals that can order that or even cancelled the elections. We would advice anyone who is aggrieved to go to the court."

Also in Abuja on Monday, EU EOM said the elections in Akwa Ibom and Rivers states needed to be probed because of rigging, intimidation and violence.

The Chief Observer of the EU EOM, Santiago Fisas, said at a news conference that even though the elections witnessed “more efficient polling, there were “increased incidents of violence and interference.”