INEC promises hitch-free rerun election in Enugu

An election officer uses Bimodal Voter Accreditation System to authenticate the identity of a voter at a polling station for a gubernatorial and House of Assembly candidates during local elections, in Lagos, on March 18, 2023. – Nigerians vote in local elections three weeks after the ruling party won a presidential poll contested by the two main opposition parties. Africa’s most populous country will be voting for governors in 28 of the 36 states of the federation — the other states having already conducted by-elections — as well as for representatives in state assemblies. (Photo by PIUS UTOMI EKPEI / AFP)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Thursday that it would conduct a hitch-free and credible rerun elections in Enugu State on February 3.

The Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, disclosed during a stakeholders meeting in Enugu that preparation for the rerun elections was in full gear and almost concluded.

The Appeal Court late last year ordered a rerun of elections in Udenu/Igbo-eze North Federal Constituency and Enugu South Urban State Constituency in Enugu State.

Chukwu explained that both constituency elections would be conducted in 25 Registration Areas amounting to 173 polling units in the state.

He said that for Enugu South Urban State Constituency (in Enugu South council area); there would be a rerun election in eight polling units having some discrepancies as ordered by the court.

He further said that Udenu/Igbo-eze North Federal Constituency, made up of two council areas – Udenu and Igbo-eze North -; elections will be conducted in 55 polling units in Udenu council and 110 polling units in Igbo-eze North council.

“Working under the order of the court, which specified 90 days for conduct of the rerun elections, the commission has fixed Feb. 3, 2024 for the rerun elections.

“We are prepared and have made necessary arrangements for hitch-free and inclusive rerun elections that is the essence of this important stakeholders meeting.

“Presently, we have non-sensitive materials in INEC offices in the various council areas involved in the rerun elections.

“The stakeholders will be carried along to unveil and monitor the sensitive materials as they arrive a few hours toward the Election Day proper through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Enugu branch,” he said.

Chukwu noted that all political parties that took part in the initial election would be participating in the rerun elections, adding that the commission expected maximum cooperation from the political parties for a successful exercise.

“INEC is poised to conduct free, fair, credible and transplant rerun elections.

“Personally, I am also assuring stakeholders of keeping to the timing scheduled of 8a.m. start of the election; and other modalities and arrangement will also be intact.”