INEC Shifts Election In PH Federal Constituency II …47 Others, 15 Senatorial Districts Affected Nationwide

The Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II in Rivers State is among the 48 federal constituencies and  15 senatorial districts that elections would not hold in the National Assembly elections reschedule for Saturday, April 9, 2011.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega who announced this yesterday said elections in 15 senatorial districts and 48 federal constituencies would not hold tomorrow as earlier stated by the commission.

Reasons given by INEC why election would not hold in Port Harcourt Federal Constituency II include need to print ballot papers and replace missing CPC logo.

Jega, while briefing newsmen yesterday said replacement of ballot papers cannot be possible immediately, stating that the challenges are that fresh ballot papers would be printed.

He explained that elections in the affected constituencies would hold on Tuesday, April 26 2011 together with governorship and  state Assembly elections.

The INEC chairman explained that all materials for the states and local governments have been put in place while logistics arrangements have also been put in place.

The INEC boss further explained that in some places a good quality of ballot papers had been used before the announcement of the cancellation last Saturday, adding that it would not be possible to replace all the used materials.

According to him, in some constituencies , the  logos of some political parties were missing from the ballot papers.

Some of the effected states include Abia, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta and Ebonyi.

Others are Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Sokoto, Zamfara and Rivers State.

Reacting to the news of the postponement, a member representing the Port Harcourt Constituency II in Rivers State and also candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Hon Chinyere Igwe welcomed the shift, adding that he is always ready for the polls.

He said the shift posed no challenges to his bid, ‘INEC is only postponing my victory”, he said.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Alhaji Maigari Aminu (centre) cutting the tape to commission the cars donated by Governor Chibuike Amaechi to Sharks Football Club of Port Harcourt for winning the 2010 WAFU Cup. He is supported by Commissioner for Sports, Hon Boma Iyaye (2nd left), Chairman Technical sub Committee of the NFA, Mr Christopher Green, Permanent Secretary SSG's office, Mr Solvins Okari and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Sports, Mr Walter Ndu, at the Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, yesterday.