International observers ask INEC to cancel Rivers election

International election observers have called for the cancellation of the governorship and house of assembly elections in Rivers state.

Humphrey Bekaren, leader of African Centre for Leadership Strategies and Development, who spoke on behalf of the observers, made the call in Port Harcourt, capital of the state.

He expressed shock that INEC went ahead to commence the process of declaring results, disregarding the widely reported violence and irregularities.

“We request all lovers of democracy to join us in calling for the outright cancellation of the phony election,” he said.

“Unless this is done, we would have sown the seed that could eventually grow into providing a shade of fear and death over us.”

“What we saw did not meet international standard of electioneering, not even the ones set by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC.”

He said there were reported incidents like deliberate delays and diversion of electoral materials, attacks on electoral officers, widespread arson and voter intimidation.

However, Gesila Khan, the resident electoral commissioner in the state, said INEC cancelled election in centres with reported electoral malpractices.

She added that re-run elections took place in six local government areas where electoral malpractices were reported.