INEC decides on River poll today..4 likely options

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Action Congress (AAC), the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other parties will today know their fate on the stalemated governorship poll in Rivers State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC)  has summoned a meeting of its management to receive and consider the report of a fact-finding team it sent to the Southsouth state.

The electoral body may receive also the report on its investigation into the disruption of the poll in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

But top on the list of issues before INEC, as at last night, is the suspended election in Rivers State.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The panel on Rivers State will on Friday submit its report to INEC management. Thereafter, the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and his team will consider the findings and make a pronouncement.

“We are aware of the interest which the suspension of the elections in Rivers State has generated and we want to resolve it as soon as possible.”

There are four options before INEC. They are:

• whether or not to cancel the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State;
• Restricted conduct of elections only in units, wards or areas affected by violence.
• Announcement of collated or retrieved  results if the security situation does not permit a fresh poll;
• declaring the results as it were and leaving the aggrieved to go to the tribunal.

According to the source, any delay in taking a decision may lead to a constitutional crisis in the state.

“INEC will be fair, just, equitable and it will be guided by the Electoral Act, 2010( as amended) in its decision on Rivers State.

“The panel has concluded its assignment. Were it not for the issuance of Certificates of Return to senators and Representatives-elect, we would have considered the report on Rivers on Thursday (yesterday).”

A statement last Sunday by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, said: “The commission has decided to suspend all electoral processes in Rivers State until further notice.

“This is in line with Section 26  of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and Clause 47(e) of the regulations and guidelines of the commission.”

As at press time, it was gathered that the team which investigated the disruption of the collation and cancellation of results in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi State had concluded its assignment.

“We will look at the findings of this committee to guide the conduct of supplementary elections in the state on March 23,” the source said.