The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken the unprecedented step of suspending ongoing rerun elections in specific constituencies, citing disruptions, irregularities, and the abduction of election officials.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, revealed this development in a statement issued in Abuja.
The affected areas include Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, Enugu South 1 State Constituency in Enugu State, and Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency in Kano State. The reasons for suspension vary, including the carting away of election materials by hoodlums in Akwa Ibom, unavailability of original result sheets in Enugu, and the invasion and disruption by thugs in Kano.
INEC's decision aligns with the Electoral Act, and further measures for the affected constituencies will be announced after a Commission meeting on Monday.
Olumekun urged security agencies to investigate the incidents, emphasizing INEC's commitment to thoroughly scrutinizing any breaches involving its officials.