66 violent incidents recorded
nationwide in Saturday polls –
INEC
2015-04-13 10:46
Abuja - Sixty-six reports of violent
incidents targeted at polling units,
election officials, materials and voters
were recorded nationwide in the state
governorship and legislative elections on
Saturday, INEC said in a statement.
The statement was issued by Kayode
Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the
Chairman of Independent National
Election Commission (INEC), in Abuja on
Sunday.
It said a general assessment of the
elections showed that the exercise went
well across the country.
It stated that a preliminary reports on the
polls showed that 88.9 per cent of polling
units opened for accreditation between 8
a.m. and 10 a.m. across the country.
"Only 5.2 per cent were yet to open as of
1p.m. Also, 73 per cent of the polling
units had commenced voting by 2.30
p.m.
"The process of accreditation with Smart
Card Readers was also successful in a
majority of the polling units," it stated.
It, however, said that initial challenges
were recorded in Edo and Abia states but
the technical teams deployed to support
the states were able to resolve the issues
in a timely manner.
"Overall, many parts of the country
remained relatively peaceful during the
elections.
"Some states, however, recorded a
significant number of violent incidents,
the most affected being Rivers, Akwa
Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi and Ondo
states.
"INEC’s records show that there were 66
reports of violent incidents targeted at
polling units, the commission’s officials,
voters and election materials," it said.
A breakdown of the incidents showed that
16 incidents were recorded in Rivers, eight
in Ondo, six each from Cross River and
Ebonyi as well as one each in Katsina,
Plateau, Kogi, Abia, Imo, Kano and Ogun.
Also read: Rivers police suspected of
electoral foul play
It also stated that five violent incidents
were recorded in Akwa Ibom, four in
Bayelsa, three each in Lagos and Kaduna,
as well as two each in Jigawa, Enugu,
Ekiti and Osun states.
"The commission is investigating these
incidents and will do everything within its
powers to bring culprits to justice."
INEC, however, commended Nigerians for
demonstrating their resolve and
commitment to participate in the electoral
process and by doing so, contributing to
deepening democracy of Nigeria.
The commission urged Nigerians to
maintain the peace as the results of the
Governorship and State Assembly
elections were being processed, and to
accept the official outcomes.
It emphasised that winners could only
emerge after collation of the official
results and on the basis of the
requirements prescribed by the law.
"Any aggrieved persons or groups are
encouraged to seek redress at the
tribunals.
"INEC would also like to remind all
stakeholders that the process is not yet
completed and urges restraint in their
comments as we strive to bring this
process to an orderly, peaceful and
credible conclusion."