The Independent Independent National Electoral Commission has failed to meet the deadline set for the conclusion of all outstanding elections in Rivers State.
Recall that the announcement was made at a multi-party meeting in August, but there aren’t signs that legislative elections would take place as promised.
And this delay doesn’t seem to go down well with many, who feel the state is being denied its representation at both the state and national houses of assembly.
TVC News Uche Okoro reports that the electoral umpire had in meetings with stakeholders given the assurance, but as it stands it is obvious that it would not be able to match its words with action this month.
October has come and gone and voters in the state remain under represented in more than 15 vacant legislative seats.
But what does the ordinary man on the streets of Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital think about this protracted delay?
Also, Prominent amongst the concerns of many residents is the threat of insecurity during the electoral process.
Meanwhile the expiration of the INEC’s October deadline seems to be having no negative effects on the optimism of the political parties expected to participate in the polls.
Even as the inconclusive election continue to generate so much anxiety amongst stakeholders, civil society groups are planning to take a more drastic step.
For now, INEC is yet to give reasons for its inability to beat the October deadline again but some eligible voters have pledged to turn out in their numbers for the exercise whenever a new date is fixed.
