…vows to investigate allegations of irregularities
By Sadiq Umar, Abuja.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the collation of the Presidential elections would commence 12pm on Monday, even as it vowed to investigate alleged irregularities in Rivers and Delta states during the Saturday poll.
INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, who spoke this, Sunday evening at a press briefing in Abuja, said the commission is under no pressure to declare elections inconclusive.
Responding to questions from journalists during the briefing, Jega said collation of results will begin at 12pm tomorrow.
“We will declare results when it has been collated from the states.
“Please be wary of declaration from people who are clearly partisan, Jega said.
Adding: “I don’t know where the PDP spokesman got his source but we have not collated results in 23 states,” he said while reacting to a question from a reporter.
“We are not under any pressure to declare inconclusive elections. And l wonder if any party would want an inconclusive election, what l think everybody is interested in is the results.
He said it was regrettable that there were short-comings in the functionality of the Card Readers, adding that the system not withstanding has helped to increase the credibility of the elections.
“I can tell you certainly that the failure of card readers surprised us and it is probable that the POs were not trained,” Jega said.
“We have received allegations that our Adhoc staff were substituted in Delta state, we are thoroughly investigating.”
Jega confirmed that the complaints on alleged malpractices, have reached the commission, saying the body was concerned about the development. He added that if any staff of the electoral body was found culpable, in the crises, appropriate measures would be taken against them.
The Chairman also acknowledged receipt of complaints from other parts of the country and promised full investigations on them.
Jega also confirmed that voting has been extended till Sunday in States like: Osun, Kebbi, Niger, Jigawa (30 units), Kano (10 units), Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Taraba (116 units) and Lagos (90 units).
The Chairman urged Nigerians to be patient while the collation of results lasted, after which the final result is announced.
Meanwhile, members of the Rivers State APC Sunday trooped out in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, to demand for total cancellation of the Saturday’s Presidential election.
