INEC, RECs meet over governorship elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission is currently meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners at Abuja

The electoral officers are meeting to discuss the March 9 governorship and State House of Assembly and the Federal Capital Territory elections preparations.

The elections will be held in 29 of 36 states across the country.

Also, part of the agenda of the meeting is for the RECs to give assessments about the just-concluded presidential and National Assembly polls.

The presidential election was held on Saturday, February 28. It was marred by delays, sporadic violence, and allegations of vote rigging.

Incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari defeated opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party.

INEC announced the final count on Wednesday, after days of vote tabulating across states. Buhari won handily, securing approximately 56 percent of the vote, compared to Atiku’s 41 percent.

After the announcement, Buhari thanked his supporters. “I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to you for judging me worthy of continuing to serve you and for your peaceful conduct,” he said.

However, Abubakar is challenging the results of the poll. He claimed that there were “statistical improbabilities” that were apparent, such as high turnout in areas plagued by conflict and lower turnout in peaceful states.

He also alleged that the military personnel deployed to keep the peace had helped suppress the vote in certain areas.

“If I had lost in a free and fair election, I would have called the victor within seconds of my being aware of his victory to offer not just my congratulations, but my services to help unite Nigeria by being a bridge between the North and the South,” Abubakar said.

He added, “I hereby reject the result of the February 23, 2019 sham election and will be challenging it in court.”