INEC expresses readiness for rerun of parliamentary poll in Awka

INEC says it is set for the February 3 rerun of elections in Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo and Orumba North and Orumba South federal constituencies in Anambra.

The resident electoral commissioner, Elizabeth Agwu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a media interaction at the INEC headquarters, Awka.

Ms Agwu said the rerun election was in response to a court order which directed that election in the 21 polling units in the two local government areas be cancelled and a rerun.

She said the election would be held in five polling units, four wards in Nnewi North and 16 polling units and one ward in Orumba North.

Ms Agwu further said INEC had made adequate preparations to ensure that the election was credible, free and fair.

She reminded the concerned LGAs that there is no winner until after the rerun of the elections for the candidates in the federal constituencies.

The REC called on the 97,438 registered voters in the affected LGAs, to come out enmasse to collect their cards.

She also advised the 161,914 registered voters of Orumba North and South to come out on Feb. 3 to cast their votes for their preferred candidates.

Ms Agwu assured voters of tight security before, during and after the election.

She said the commission had been engaging security agencies in tight meetings to provide adequate security for the electorate willing to exercise their franchise.

She called on youths of the affected areas not to allow themselves to be used as thugs during the election as anyone caught would be legally handled.

The REC also advised the candidates to carry out issue-based campaigns to convince their people to vote for them and not to engage in election rigging or vote buying as INEC would not allow such to thrive.

She commended the media in Anambra for factual reportage and for always confirming issues before publishing, urging them to do a good job during the election.

INEC’s acting administrative secretary in Awka, Chukwuemeka Nnaji, assured that the commission was committed to conducting credible elections.

Mr Nnaji said INEC kept improving its services as it had learnt from past mistakes from elections held in the country.

“We will not relent in learning from the past experience to fine tune future elections in the country as all elections mean the same to the commission,” he said.

(NAN)