Unveils roadmap for re-run polls in Rivers, Imo, Kogi
Fixes Ondo, Edo CVR for June 22
Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rolled out conditions and processes that will lead to the eventual conduct of suspended re-run elections in four states-Rivers, Imo, Kogi and Kano.
The processes include assessment of the current security situation, possible legal impediments and general preparedness for the election, meeting with all political parties in Abuja, obtaining undertaking from parties,candidates and their supporters for peaceful elections and meeting of the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and RECs final report on security readiness for the election.
In a statement issued and signed by the Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, the commission reiterated commitment to concluding the suspended elections in Rivers, Imo, Kogi and Kano States which were disrupted by violence not later than July 31, 2016.
It said the conduct of the re-run will still be dependent when necessary consultations and activities leading to the elections were concluded timeously and that conditions were conducive enough for the conduct of the elections.
The commission said that in spite of this commitment, it would not return to conduct elections or hesitate to further postpone or discontinue the suspended elections in any area where there was imminent threat to lives or to peace or security, especially where such threats were likely to lead to breakdown of law and order.
The commission which issued a road map for the resolution of the crisis and violence which led to the suspension of the elections in the affected areas, said it would fix the dates for the elections following consultations with political parties and candidates.
Meanwhile, INEC has scheduled the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise for Edo and Ondo States from Wednesday, June 22 to Sunday, June 26.
According to the commission’s Decision Extract issued on May 26 and signed by the Director, Commission’s Secretariat, Ishaku A. Gali, the commission has also scheduled Monday, June 27, 2016 as the conclusion of claims and objectives.
The CVR exercise is to precede the two governorship elections for Edo and Ondo, scheduled for Saturday, September 10 and Saturday, November 26, 2016 respectively.
The commission is to give notice of the Edo governorship election tomorrow.
Section 30(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that the commission shall give the notice of a governorship election not later than 90 days before the election.
