The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will conduct supplementary presidential elections in places where elections were cancelled, or where elections could not hold.
The resolve of the commission was communicated via a statement issued by the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Friday.
According to the statement ,the decision was taken after an earlier meeting between the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to review the presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 23, 2019, as well as to assess preparations for the governorship, state Houses of Assembly and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections slated for March 9, 2019.
The commission noted the delays and cancellations in some areas, and restated its commitment to rectifying the challenges before the next election date.
The statement read: “The meeting acknowledged the delays in the commencement of elections in a number of polling units which necessitated the extension of the closing of polls in the affected areas. The Commission is determined to rectify the identified challenges before the elections on 9th March.
“The meeting noted a number of cancellations in certain areas due to violence, which prevented the Commission from deploying personnel and materials for the elections due to disruptions and deliberate non-compliance with the use of the Smart Card Reader (SCR), contrary to the INEC regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections.
“Consequently, the meeting decided that supplementary elections will be conducted in all areas where elections did not take place and/or where returns could not be made on Saturday, 9th March, 2019 alongside the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.”
The commission also decried the “high level of violence in a few places” and condoled with the families of its ad hoc staff and other Nigerians who lost their lives during the elections.
Sahara Reporters
