INEC reschedules Governorship/State Assembly Polls in Benue State LGAs

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has rescheduled the Governorship and House of Assembly elections of two constituencies in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State, North Central Nigeria for Tuesday, March 21st, 2023.

The Commission had on March 18th, postponed elections in the Area Council after it detected error prints on ballot papers for both Kwande East and Kwande West State Constituencies.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Benue State, Professor Sam Egwu announced this at a Press Conference at the Commission’s Head office in Makurdi, the State Capital.

Professor Egwu said sensitive materials including ballot papers for the rescheduled elections had arrived and would be made available by the Commission for inspection by political parties before the conduct of the exercise.

“On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, I wish to announce that the Governorship and State Assembly elections earlier postponed on 18th March, 2023, have been rescheduled to hold on Tuesday, 21st March, 2023.

“It is important to inform the public that the ballot papers for the state Assembly constituencies have been reprinted and ready to be deployed to Kwande Local Government Area,” he said.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner urged stakeholders, political parties and their candidates, security agencies and ad-hoc staff engaged for the conduct of the exercise on Saturday to return for the exercise.

“As I speak to you, INEC Benue State, haven got the permission of the Commission in Abuja is preparing for both the Governorship and the 2 state Assembly elections for tomorrow”.

Professor Sam Egwu declined insinuations that the Governorship election results would be delayed until the outcome of the rescheduled polls in Kwande Local Government.

“I am not in the position to say whether the result of the Governorship election would be declared today or not. I cannot categorically state here whether the outcome of the election would be inconclusive or not.

“Like all other elections, Governorship election is guided by law. It is at the end of collating the 22 local government results that are available that the Commission will be able to make a determination as to whether to declare a winner, and until we get to that point, it is academic to talk about declaration now”.