APC, PDP disagree as INEC shifts Akuku-Toru election to Sunday

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed election to Sunday in Akuku Toru local government area of Rivers state.

Austin Okojie, a supervising resident electoral commissioner, announced the development late Saturday, explaining that the decision to suspend the election was taken after a meeting with representatives of parties.

He said INEC did not continue with the exercise because ad hoc staff and corps members could not arrive on time.

Supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have expressed mixed reactions to the suspension of the exercise.

Tonye Alalibo, caretaker committee chairman of the local government, said the suspension would allow a rival party manipulate the process.

Alalibo said the PDP was ready for the election but INEC decided to suspend the process.

Isobo Jack, a leader of the APC in the area, said it was unfortunate that the elections could not hold but expressed hopes that it would be held as agreed.

Jack urged his party faithful to be patient and avoid anything that could cause crisis.

Meanwhile, the commission has described the conduct of the poll as an improvement compared to the suspended exercise in March.

Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to INEC chairman, said this to NAN in in Abuja on Saturday.

“Generally, the trail of violence is not as what we witnessed in March,” he said.

“In March, a person was killed and the commission was forced to close the election, but in this Saturday’s exercise, there is no strong indication for us to say that we are suspending the election again.

“We think that relatively, we should be able to conclude the process peacefully, the security agencies should be commended for securing most of the places used for the elections.

“Voting in some places has been concluded and collation ongoing. We are assuring Nigerians that we are building on our achievements in Edo and Ondo in term of credibility of elections in the country.”