'Cancel elections in Rivers,' Party tells Jega

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, to outrightly cancel the presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.

In a petition signed by the APC Chairman in the state, Davies Ikanyam, on Saturday March 28, the party said; "parody of election held in Rivers State" was characterised by "deliberate non release of result sheets to nearly all the centres, active collaboration and collusion of the INEC staff with the People’s Democratic Party in undermining the credibility of the election."

The APC alleged that violence was orchestrated to scare away voters and that the officers of the Nigerian Police Force were also used to arrest some APC leaders and supporters, thereby preventing them from participating in the elections.

The party also accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Gesila Khan, of conniving with the PDP to smoothen the electoral malpractices in the state. Khan is said be a known associate and friend of President Goodluck Jonathan.

While the petition was being drafted, APC said it was aware that thumb-printing and collation of fake results were underway at various locations in the state.

The party is therefore asking for the "outright cancellation and rescheduling" of elections in the state.