BY BEN AGANDE
More candidates that took part in last Saturday’s National Assembly elections have petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, calling for cancellation of the elections as a result of alleged widespread irregularities.

The candidates of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, for the three senatorial districts in the state, George Akume, Joseph Akaargerger and  Lawrence Onoja, had petitioned the commission on Tuesday calling for the cancellation over alleged irregularities.

Also submitting petitions yesterday, some candidates who contested the elections, led by former president of the West African Students Union, Mr Daniel Onjeh, called on the commission to cancel the results declared for Benue South senatorial districts, saying the results declared were not a true reflection of the wishes of the people.

In the petition signed by Comrade Onjeh on behalf of others, he alleged that “in the polling centres at Apa ward in Ado local government, especially in remote villages, the PDP conspired with security agents to molest and chase away innocent voters and subsequently colluded with INEC officials to thumb-print the ballot papers in favour of the PDP.”

He also alleged that “thugs loyal to the PDP were seen snatching ballot boxes, after which they took the ballot boxes to unknown locations and thumb-printed them in favour of the PDP and with the collaboration of INEC officials, they were later able to smuggle the thumb- printed ballot papers into the ballot boxes.”

He called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission not to go ahead to issue Certificate of Returns to those who were purportedly declared winners, saying it would be unfair and unacceptable for INEC to go ahead and announce a winner in an election that was so clearly marred by violence and rigging.