INEC promises better gubernatorial, states assembly polls on March 9

• Declares two Senate, five Reps elections inconclusive in Rivers
• Ortom urges Akume to stop using children as thugs

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised to conduct better elections on March 9, 2019 during the gubernatorial and states Houses of Assembly exercise.

The elections will hold in 29 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, while seven states of Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo and Osun with staggered elections await off-season polls.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu, stated this yesterday after its post-election meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja to review last Saturday’s polls.

According to Yakubu, the FCT has 68 constituencies, which are fielding candidates for the polls.

Besides, he stated that the meeting was aimed at taking stock and reviewing the processes for improved electoral system and find a way to eliminate irregularities that trailed the February 23, 2019 elections.

However, INEC has declared the elections in Rivers East, Rivers West senatorial districts and five federal constituencies inconclusive.

Results were only announced for Rivers South East senatorial district for which Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Barry Mpigi, emerged winner.

In Rivers East Senatorial district, INEC said there were no results from Ikwerre, Emohua and Okrika local government areas for the National Assembly election.

INEC’s electoral officers for Ikwerre, Emohua and Okrika local government areas, had narrated how military officers disrupted the collation and even attempted to compel them to fill false results.