INEC Assures Of Credible Rerun Poll In Ekiti

INEC Assures Of Credible Rerun Poll In Ekiti

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) in Ekiti State has expressed its readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible supplementary election in Ekiti East constituency 1 of the state.

The Acting Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti, Dr. Muslim Omoleke gave the assurance in Ado Ekiti on Sunday , saying INEC would by the week meet the security agencies and brief them on the need to be prepared for the conduct of the election.

The electoral body said it would not deviate from the tradition of neutrality and transparency as the people of the constituency go to poll again on Saturday for the rerun State Assembly election.

The March 9, 2019 State Assembly and governorship elections held across the country were suspended in the constituency while results from other 25 constituencies were already declared.

He said that supplementary election would be held on Saturday, March 23 in five polling units in the constituency, in line with the directive of the Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

Omoleke said the decision of commission to suspend elections in the polling units thereby making the outcome inconclusive, was borne out avowed commitment to be neutral and fair to all contenders in all election.

“We are prepared for the election and we won’t deviate from the practice of fairness and neutrality to all political parties.

“We will meet the security agencies this week and brief them on how the conduct will look like, so they can plan their own strategies on how to deliver a free, fair and credible election on Saturday.

“We have received materials from the headquarters and they are being kept in the Central Bank of Nigeria, the materials are under safe custody.

“We want to assure our voters that we won’t let them down. Let them come out massively and vote and we assure that their votes will count.

“INEC did not disappoint in the conduct of the presidential and state and National assembly elections in Ekiti,  this also will not be an exemption”, Omoleke stated.

In the election, Mr. Juwa Adegbuyi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the incumbent and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Ojo-Ade Fajana are the top contenders for the seat.