INEC DECLARES ANAMBRA GUBER POLL INCONCLUSIVE, FIXES SUPPLEMENTARY ELECTION ON TUESDAY

REPORTERS: ALFRED AJAYI & NDU NWANNAH

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed a Supplementary Election in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State on Tuesday this week.

As a result, the Commission declared the election inconclusive, until the supplementary election is conducted.

Ihiala was the only Local Government Area, where Saturday’s gubernatorial polls in the State did not hold.

The Returning Officer for the election and Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, Professor Florence Obi, announced the decision after the collation of results of the 20 Local Government Areas, where the election took place.

Professor Obi said this was in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act before any declaration could be made.

She observed that the election in Ihiala could not hold last Saturday due to security threats.

The result of Orumba North Local Government Area was collated after it was subjected to scrutiny by a conference of Collation Officers.

The Collation Officer for the Local Government, Dr. Michael Otu, had while collating the results, alleged that he signed the document under duress and that the election did not take place in polling units.

This was however, debunked by the Electoral Officer for Orumba North, Mrs. Comfort Omoruyi, who claimed that the election was transparent.

Reacting to the Supplementary Election, the APGA Agent, Senator Victor Umeh described it as a welcome development to conclude the process.

The APC Agent, Mr. Chibuzor Obiakor said the decision to suspend the exercise until the election is conducted in Ihiala, was in the right direction.

Mr. Obiakor, however, rejected the results announced for Orumba North, saying the BVAS machine should have been checked before accepting the alleged outcome.

The APC and PDP Agents refused to sign the results of the 20 Local Government Areas already collated.