Tai Rerun: Ikoiwak Admits Breaching Electoral Act

The Independent Na
tional Electoral Commission (INEC) says its earlier pronouncement on the cancellation of Tai Local Government Area Legislative rerun election of March 19, 2016 in Rivers State without report from its officers in the area was against the electoral law.
The INEC Resident Commissioner in Rivers State, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt said the INEC was not aware that the electoral officers had already computed and declared the results in the area before the pronouncement of the cancellation of the rerun in Tai Constituency.
According to him, INEC has no right to cancel any election which result had already been computed and declared by the Electoral Officer incharge of the election in any given area.
He said INEC was not aware that its officers incharge of Tai rerun polls had already computed and declared the result of the area, hence its cancellation.
Ikoiwak said though the commission actually regretted the pronouncement of the cancellation, it has to abide by the electoral law to uphold the rerun election result earlier computed by the electoral officers in the area.
He called on any aggrieved party to shun violence and seek legal redress if not convinced.
Ikoiwak also called on the public and political parties to begin having trust in the institutions in Nigeria, saying that God cannot come down to set things right for the country, but through human beings.
He said, as long as the rerun election in Rivers State is concerned, INEC will remain impartial to deliver fair and free elections.

Enoch Epelle