The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has cancelled the governorship held in Southern Ijaw local government on Saturday due to violence and snatching of ballot boxes.

This effectively makes the election in inconclusive, despite Governor Seriake Dickson’s clear lead in seven of the state’s eight local governments ahead of the closest rival, Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Southern Ijaw has the second largest number of voters, behind the state capital Yenagoa, and seen as capable of swinging the election either way.

INEC moved to cancel the election in the local government due to alleged kidnapping of electoral officials, ballot box snatching and violence and as done in Kogi State recently, a date is expected to be announced for a supplementary election.

Reacting to the cancellation, Dickson has set up a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the violence that attended the voting in the local government.

The governor who expressed worry at the development vowed to get to the root of the matter and expose those behind the crisis.

However, Silva condemned the cancellation of the election in Southern Ijaw local government and alleged that INEC was working out a script written by the PDP.

He said the action was tantamount to denying the people the right to elect their leaders.