The April 11 governorship elections in Abia, Imo and Taraba states were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Today, INEC is holding supplementary elections in areas in those states where elections either did not take place or results were cancelled due to irregularities.
The supplementary elections will hold in 51 Registration Areas (RAs) in nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Abia State; 79 RAs in 23 LGAs in Imo; and 32 RAs in 10 LGAs in Taraba.
Already, the electoral agency has deployed three National Commissioners to each of the states on supervisory duties.
The National Commissioners will be assisted in each of the states by three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs). These are besides the substantive RECs for the affected states.
The commission says it has also deployed three Directing staff from the Headquarters to each of the affected states to coordinate the operations, while some other staff from the headquarters have been deployed to the states as monitors. In addition, Electoral Officers (EOs) from neighbouring states will be on ground to assist the EOs of the affected LGAs.
The Commission says it is “determined to ensure that the supplementary elections are free, fair credible and peaceful; and it urges voters in the affected areas to conduct themselves peacefully and in accordance with set procedures of the elections, so that the process is crisis-free and concludes in good time”.
It added, “We also call on the Police to ensure compliance by political actors with the restriction on movement in places where the elections are holding.
“INEC reassures the public that it is investigating allegations of misconduct by some officials during the recent general elections, and will ensure that anyone proven to have violated the rules is brought to book.”
PREMIUM TIMES reporters are covering the elections and would be bringing you live updates from the states.
Read below why the elections were declared inconclusive in each of the three states.
INEC declares Abia governorship poll inconclusive
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