INEC fixes Sunday for suspended elections in Lagos, Rivers States
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Sunday, March 19, 2023 for the conduct of suspended elections in some polling units in Lagos and Rivers States.
In Lagos, the Commission’s Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Tadese Adenike, in a statement explained that Governorship and House of Assembly elections in 8 polling units in Victoria Garden City Estate in Eti Osa Local Government Area were not held due to the refusal of residents to come out to vote.
She said,“ The Commission wishes to inform the general public that the Governorship / House of Assembly Election held today Saturday 18th March, 2023 could not hold at Eight (8) Polling Units at Victoria Garden City Estate in Eti Osa Local Government Area.
“It is also pertinent to state that the Adhoc Staff engaged (NYSC Corp Members) for the conduct of the Presidential/ National Assembly Election held on 25th February, 2023 were traumatized due to extended work hours (as late as 4:00 am on 26th February, 2023) which was hazardous to the general well-being of the Adhoc Staff.
“In view of this incident and in order to forestall the previous occurrence the Electoral Officer for Eti-Osa was directed to reach a compromise with the Management of VGC to hold today’s Governorship/ House of Assembly Election in front of the Estate Gate but to the Commission’s dismay the residents refused to come out to vote despite the deployment of Police and Military to the area to ensure safety and enhance peace in the environment during and after the election today 18th March 2023.
“Following consultation with the Commission, it was decided that the election be rescheduled to hold at VGC Eti-Osa LGA tomorrow Sunday 19th March, 2023 between the hours of 8:30am and 2:30pm.
“Members of the Public should please note that the number of Registered Voters at VGC is Six Thousand and Twenty Four (6,024) while the number of PVCs Collected was Five Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty Four (5,624)
“The Independent National Electoral Commission as a law abiding corporate Institution will never disenfranchise voters from performing their civic responsibility and voting for the candidate of their choice.
“INEC enjoins the good people of VGC to be orderly and law abiding during the conduct of the rescheduled election tomorrow 19th March, 2023.”
Rivers State
In Rivers State, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Johnson Alalibo, disclosed in a statement explained that elections could not hold in Asari-Toru and ward 14 of Degema Local Government Areas last Saturday due to the voters’ resistance of deployed election officials and materials for the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
Alalibo said that the electorate and other stakeholders demanded to see the ward collation officer before they would allow the election to commence in Asari-Toru LGA.
He said that voters at ward 14 in Degema LGA equally demanded that the supervising Presiding Officer (SPO) must come to the Registration Area Centre with collation sheets, thereby disallowing the election to hold in the area.
The REC said that the Commission had decided to conduct the election in the areas on Sunday, standing on the premise and relying on section 24 of the Electoral Act 2022.
NAN/PIAK
