Why we declared Anambra gubernatorial election inconclusive – INEC

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By Ismail Auwal

The Anambra State gubernatorial election returning officer, Florence Obi, has said the state election was declared inconclusive because there was no election in Ihiala Local Government Area which has over 148,000 registered voters.

She said that, INEC could not deploy voting materials to Ihiala during Saturday’s election because of the security threat.

Charles Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), scored a total of 103,946 votes and won the election in 18 out of the 21 local government areas of the state.

His closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party scored 51,322 and won in only one local government area.

“Based on constitutional consideration and provisions of the Electoral Act as well as the Revised Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections issued by the commission, supplementary election is indicated for Ihiala Local Government Area,” the state returning officer, Mrs Obi said.

She said the constitution provides for a candidate to secure both the highest number of votes cast and 25 per cent of votes cast in at least two-third of the local government areas of the state before he is declared winner.

“Therefore, it is important to complete the election in Ihiala to make this determination,” she said.

“Section 179 (3) of the Constitution provides that a rerun election shall take place if no candidate meets the requirement of sub-section 2. Such a run-off shall be between the candidate with the highest number of votes and one among the remaining candidates who secured a majority of votes in the highest number of local government areas in the state,” she added.

Mrs Obi said she has discussed with INEC and that the commission has decided to conduct a supplementary election in Ihiala on Tuesday, November 9.

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