{"id":65529,"date":"2019-03-16T16:56:04","date_gmt":"2019-03-16T15:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=65529"},"modified":"2019-03-16T16:56:04","modified_gmt":"2019-03-16T15:56:04","slug":"inec-blames-soldiers-armed-thugs-for-election-suspension-in-rivers-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/inec-blames-soldiers-armed-thugs-for-election-suspension-in-rivers-state\/","title":{"rendered":"INEC Blames Soldiers, Armed Thugs For Election Suspension In Rivers State"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed Soldiers<\/div>\n
\n
and Armed thugs in the suspension of elections in Rivers State, saying it
\nwill issue “detailed timelines and activities” for the completion of the
\ngovernorship and state house of assembly elections in the State on March
\n20, 2019.<\/p>\n

This was contained in a statement issued by Festus Okoye, Chairman,
\nInformation and Voter Education Committee, late on Friday, in which the
\ncommission blamed “some soldiers and armed gangs” for invading collation
\ncenters, resulting in the intimidation and unlawful arrest of election
\nofficials, thereby disrupting the electoral process”.<\/p>\n

According to the commission, a meeting was held on Friday to deliberate on
\nthe outcome of the report by the fact-finding committee sent to Rivers
\nState.<\/p>\n

The electoral process had been suspended on March 10, 2019, following
\nirregularities that characterized the election.<\/p>\n

The statement by INEC on the outcome of the fact-finding committee read:
\n“That the governorship and state assembly elections took place in most of
\nthe polling units and results were announced.<\/p>\n

“That the results of 17 out of 23 Local Governments are available and in
\nthe commission’s custody.<\/p>\n

“That the declaration and returns for 21 State Constituencies out of 32
\nwere made prior to the suspension.<\/p>\n

“That collation centers were invaded by some soldiers and armed gangs
\nresulting in the intimidation and unlawful arrest of election officials,
\nthereby disrupting the electoral process.”<\/p>\n

The commission expressed displeasure with the situation and promised to
\nengage security agencies and key stakeholders on ensuring smooth electoral
\nprocess, noting that it will issue “detailed timeline and activities for
\nthe completion of the election on Wednesday, March 20th, 2019”<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has blamed Soldiers and Armed thugs in the suspension of elections in Rivers State, saying it will issue “detailed timelines and activities” for the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53029,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\nINEC Blames Soldiers, Armed Thugs For Election Suspension In Rivers State - Pointblank News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/inec-blames-soldiers-armed-thugs-for-election-suspension-in-rivers-state\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"INEC Blames Soldiers, Armed Thugs For Election Suspension In Rivers State - 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