The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has threatened to cancel the election results of crisis-ridden areas during the presidential and NASS election in Kogi State.
Dr Hale Longpet, Kogi Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), sounded the warning while reacting to the crises that erupted in some local government areas. He spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.
There were reports of thugs interfering with some polling units in Anyigba and Dekina in the Kogi East and Mopa in the Kogi West, as well as parts of Kogi Central, where voting materials were allegedly carted away by thugs.
However, Longpet said: “You know the electoral Law says that where there is a disruption to the process, the result will be cancelled, the very particular units’ results will be cancelled.
“The issues initially were only in the Kogi East and Central but I can’t tell exactly where and where in the state have been affected until the results are brought by the electoral officers.
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“We understood that because of the violence those affected areas couldn’t conclude the election there.
“I’m shocked that people can go to that level and disrupt something that everybody should have enjoyed.
“Election is a peaceful and willful thing that people are offered to freely participate in.
“Again, If people are given assurance that everyone will enjoy a pleasant experience, why then should we have thugs invading the whole town or the local government, disrupting the conduct of the elections?
“This is very sad and shocking, when you look at the loss of lives involved.”