The commission, therefore, mandated Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the affected states to immediately submit comprehensive reports to enable it take further decisions, including new dates for election in those areas. INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Voter Education and Publicity Committee, Festus Okoye disclosed this, while updating journalists on the Presidential and National Assembly elections held yesterday in the country.He said: “The Commission has also received reports of violence and ballot box snatching in some areas, leading to the disruption of the process. We have asked the Resident Electoral Commissioners and officials of the commission on ground to submit their firsthand reports in relation to some of these incidents. “We are still receiving reports relating to incidents in some states of the federation, but we have received reports relating to the incidence in Akoko Tulo and Boni Local Government Areas of Rivers State. “So long as the commission could not deploy in these areas, the implication is that polls did not open in those areas and the commission will hold consultations with the relevant authorities and with the Resident Electoral Commissioners in relation to these areas and will announce the date when polls will take place in these areas.

Source: The Guardian February 24, 2019 03:11 UTC