The South South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) on Tuesday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for cancelling election in Southern Ijaw LGA in the Dec. 5 gubernatorial polls.

INEC had on Monday declared the governorship poll inconclusive over reported incidents of violence which characterised the election earlier rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday.

Reacting to the development, SSPA National Secretary, Dr Ayakeme Whiskey, said that the cancellation was justified.

His words: “The cancellation is a step in the right direction that they were sufficiently briefed on the level of insecurity and violence, how electoral materials were carted away, including the intimidation and abduction of INEC officials.

“These acts cannot qualify an election to be free, fair and credible. As a country, we must progress towards meeting international standards in the conduct of elections.

“Goodluck Jonathan as President showed Africa that elections can be conducted peacefully, the Commonwealth appointed him as Head of Observer Mission to Tanzanians.

“Tanzanians and indeed the world adore him as the doyen of democracy. That is the perception of the international community where Nigeria stands today.

“If therefore if thefore in the conduct of our internal elections there developments tend to undermine that credibility we have earned, the best thing to do is to cancel it.

“The decision of INEC to cancel that election given all the scenarios, given all the negative reports was a step in the right direction, and I applaud INEC for exercising that wisdom.” Whiskey condemned the role played by the military in the cancelled elections and advised INEC to jettison the idea of deploying military for election duties.

He argued that the police was better placed to provide security to the electorate adding that the military were unsuitable for election duties.

•Bayelsa Guber Poll Chief Collation Officer, Prof. Zana Akpagu.

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