Ahead of the governorship supplementary elections scheduled for March 23, INEC has assured critical stakeholders in Plateau that it would conduct a free, fair and credible election in the affected areas.
Mallam Halilu Pai, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state, gave the assurance at a meeting with leaders of various political parties and other stakeholders on Saturday in Jos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the March 9 governorship election in the state was declared inconclusive because the margin in the votes polled by the two leading candidates was less than the votes cancelled in some polling units.
A total of 48,828 votes were cancelled across 40 polling units in 19 wards of nine local government areas.
According to Pai, the commission has put all modalities on ground to ensure that a successful and peaceful supplementary election is conducted in the affected areas.
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“As we all know, exactly one week from today, we shall be conducting a supplementary poll for the governorship seat in 40 polling units in 19 Registration Areas spread across nine local governments.
“So, we have called for this meeting to enable us brief all critical stakeholders of our level of preparedness for the forthcoming supplementary elections
“As a commission, we want to assure you that we will conduct a free, fair and credible election. We shall be neutral and ensure that the process is transparent,” he said.
Pai also commended the political gladiators and residents of the state for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner before, during and after the presidential and governorship elections, and called on them to do better during the forthcoming supplementary polls.
“It is on record that Plateau is one of the states that elections were conducted in a peaceful manner and this is largely because of the support and cooperation of the critical stakeholders and citizens of the state.
“So, it will be good that we maintain that status quo and ensure that next Saturday’s supplementary polls is also conducted in a peaceful manner,” he urged.
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NAN reports that the supplementary elections will be conducted in Shendam, Kanam, Bokkos, Mangu and Bassa local governments.
Others include Langtang South, Pankshin, Barkin Ladi and Jos North local governments.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that INEC has revealed the next step on how it is going to handle the Rivers state elections which were suspended on Sunday, March 10.
In a statement issued Friday night, March 15, in Abuja and signed by INEC's national commissioner and chairman of information and voter education committee, Festus Okoye, the commission said its fact-finding committee has confirmed that the governorship and state assembly elections took place in most of the polling units and results were announced.
It also confirmed that the results from 17 local governments out of 23 are available and are in the commission’s custody. The commission added that it has confirmed that the declaration and returns for 21 state constituencies out of 32 were made prior to the suspension.
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