By Eric Olusesan
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a timeline for the governorship and state house of assembly elections in Rivers State.
INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye, announced this on Thursday during a press conference at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He disclosed that the electoral body has decided to resume the
collation and announcement of results in the state between April 2 and 5.
Mr Okoye explained that INEC would conduct supplementary election where necessary, and in some constituencies not affected by litigation on April 13.
Afterwards, he said the issuance of all outstanding certificates
of return would be concluded on April 19.
According to the INEC official, the commission will hold an
inter-agency security meeting on March 29, after which guidelines would be
issued on the election.
He revealed that INEC would deploy national commissioners in
various states where supplementary election would take place, to monitor the
process and present certificates of return to the winners.
On the elections in Bauchi, Okoye noted that an interlocutory
injunction had been served on the electoral body.
He, however, said the supplementary election would go on in the state, apart from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area (LGA) which was the subject of litigation before the court.
He added that the exercise would hold in two state constituencies in Adamawa State, north-west Nigeria.
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The INEC official informed reporters that the winners of the
governorship election in various states announced so far would be presented
with their certificates of return between March 27 and 29.
He said INEC would announce the names of supervising national
commissioners to issue the certificates before Wednesday next week.
Okoye encouraged voters to turn up for the supplementary election
which has been scheduled to take place on March 23.