Rivers Re-run: INEC cancels elections in 8 LGs so far

  

The orgy of violence, which characterised Saturday’s re-run polls for some federal and state legislative seats in Rivers State continued, yesterday, as the results were being collated.

There were sporadic shootings in Abonema area of Port Harcourt, the state capital causing panic and heavy stampede as people around Rumuola, Rumuigbo, Mile 1 and Azikiwe road scampered for safety.
 

Over persons  have so far been reported dead as the spate of violence continued  yesterday evening

Also one person was reported dead and two others reportedly sustained gunshot injuries during fierce shooting at UTC junction on Azikiwe road between  Dr Dakuku Peterside, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Governor Wike's chief of staff, even as Dakuku Peterside alleged assassination [see]

Meantime, Governor Nyesom Wike, who spoke generally on the re-run elections in the state to newsmen in Government House said an aide to his Chief of Stafff, Mr Emeka Woke also died in the shooting. According to him, he detailed his Chief of Staff, Mr Woke to monitor the rerun election result of Ikwerre Local Government (the local council of former governor Chibuike Amaechi) to where ever they were taking it to in the state capital. He accused Peterside and his team of allegedly opening fire on his Chief of Staff, saying the aide of his Chief of Staff died immediately from the incident

However, announcing the suspension of rerun elections in additional two local governments, taking the number of councils where polls have suspended to eight, Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, in a statement, yesterday, said the commission was still collating results and studying details around other elections following the turn of events therefore, INEC cancelled elections in eight local government areas. The affected local government areas where elections have been suspended are Andoni, Asari Toru, Gokana, Khana, Tai, Eleme, Etche and Bonny.