NEC nullifies Gasabo by-elections results

The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has cancelled the by-election results for a seat on the District Advisory Council Gasabo District. The cancellation follows a petition by first-runner up, Emeritha Nyirabizimana who petitioned the commission protesting the results citing vote rigging Kimironko Sector. She alleges that the elections were rigged in favour of the declared winner, Flavia Sarafina. Speaking to The New Times, the Executive Secretary of NEC, Charles Munyaneza, said that the complaints were founded but added that even the petitioner had also gone against some rules and regulations. “Based on that, we have decided to hold fresh elections for the Kimironko councillorship,” Munyaneza said. “We discovered that most of the election procedures were not followed accordingly. Some local government officials and election staff went against the rules and there was even low turn up of the voters who did not reach the number required by the law.” Munyaneza said. It is said that only 13 percent of the total number of voters turned up for the elections contrary to the two thirds required by the law. Munyaneza said that the by-elections which are open to anyone who wishes to contest, including those who had contested previously, would either be held on Wednesday or Friday next week. “We have not yet specified the day, but it has to be one of those two days,” Munyaneza revealed. When contacted to find out if she would participate in a re-run, Nyirabizimana said that it would depend on the reasons NEC has based on to cancel the elections. “Besides rigging the elections, they also destroyed my integrity. So, I cannot confirm now,” she said. On her part, Sarafina insisted that she had won the previous elections and that she had not been told officially why NEC decided to hold fresh elections. “For me, I know that I won the elections for Kimironko councillorship. I am therefore surprised to hear that. But if NEC has decided to hold fresh elections they have to explain to me why they decided to cancel the elections I won,” Sarafina said. Ends