Etche LG election suspended indefinetly, says REC

Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers, says re-run legislative elections in Etche Local Government Area have been suspended indefinitely.

Ikoiwak told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the Dec. 10 elections in the area were marred by violence.

He said elections were scheduled for a state assembly seat and House of Representatives for Etche/Omuma constituency.

He said elections did not take place in up to 30 per cent of the Local Government because hoodlums disrupted activities in the area.

“In Etche, elections did not take place in up to 30 per cent of the area. Even when deployments were made on the eve of the election, hoodlums went there and stopped INEC officials from going to the polling units.

“Since they did not allow elections to be completed in Etche, that constituency will have to wait.

“This is because INEC will not go back immediately. Materials have already gone into the field.

“Some were snatched and destroyed. We need to plan for another election in the area,” Ikoiwak said.

The REC said elections in Omuma Local Government had been concluded and that the result for the federal constituency would be announced when Etche was ready.