The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that it will hold supplementary presidential elections in polling units and local governments where the exercise did not take place.
In a statement, the INEC Commissioner of Voter Education and Public Relations, Festus Okoye, said the Commission reached the conclusion following a meeting it held February 28 to review the presidential and national assembly elections.
Okoye said the Commission considered the cancellation of the exercise in several polling areas to take the decision.
‘The meeting noted a number of cancellations in certain areas due to violence, which prevented the Commission from deploying personnel and materials for the election. In a number of locations, it could not conclude the election due to disruptions and deliberate noncompliance with the use of the Smart Card Reader, contrary to the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections,’ he said.
‘Consequently, the meeting decided that supplementary elections will be conducted in all areas where election did not take place and/or where returns could not be made Saturday, on 9 March 2019 alongside the governorship and state assembly elections,’ Okoye said.
He explained that the supplementary elections will hold along with the governorship and state assembly elections March 9.
He also added that ‘the meeting assessed the role of security agencies in the election, while acknowledging their professionalism in deployment of the election personnel and materials in a safe and timely manner, the conduct of certain members of the security agencies in some states is a matter of serious concern to the Commission.’
He noted the matter will be discussed directly with the Inspector General of Police.
Similarly in the statement the Commission also said it has received updates on the preparation of the March 9 election and promised to update relevant stakeholders on the progress of preparation ahead.
The statement did not indicate the places where the supplementary elections will be conducted.
Source: Yenlive
Read more:https://yenlive.com/news/index.php/news/1410-inec-to-hold-supplementary-presidential-elections
