Election Presiding Officers now have the power to cancel elections if voting materials arrive at polling units late, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Rivers State, Mr. Aniedi Ikoiwak has said.
Ikoiwak made the announcement on Thursday during a quiz competition organised to sensitise youths on the functions of INEC in selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt.
He revealed that INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega has planted several mechanisms in place to ensure that the 2015 general elections are better organised than those of the past, adding that INEC is now focused on stopping all forms of malpractices during elections, especially ballot box-snatching in polling stations.
“The commission has taken a decision by giving presiding officers of polling units the power to cancel election if materials are not there at the time of their arrival”, Ikoiwak said.
“I have told youths that it is now irrelevant to snatch ballot boxes, because any form of malpractice and complicity at polling centres will result in cancellation”.
He boasted that INEC cancelled over 300 units in the recent Anambra governorship election because people snatched ballot materials from the polling units.
He also condemned the engagement of thugs and godfathers by political aspirants, saying the practice would no longer serve any purpose.
“When election is shown to belong to voters, political aspirants will not see the need to rely on godfathers or hire thugs because these people will no longer make the aspirants win election”, he said.
“This zero tolerance policy by INEC will ensure that whosoever takes the materials to their homes to thumb print should also have in mind that we will not accept them”.