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March 9: INEC Holds NASS Supplementary Poll In 80 Wards In Rivers …Begins Distribution Of Sensitive Materials

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Sequel to the suspension of the National Assembly elections held February 23, 2019, in six local government areas of Rivers State as a result of violence and disruption of the process, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has concluded plans to conduct supplementary elections in 80 electoral wards tomorrow simultaneously with the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
A statement signed by Rivers INEC’s Head, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr Edwin Enabor and made available to The Tide, indicated that the Senatorial election would hold in two senatorial districts of Rivers East and Rivers West as well as five federal constituencies for the House of Representatives seats in the state where the process was declared inconclusive.
Enabor explained that the supplementary election for Rivers East Senatorial District would hold in 13 wards in Ikwerre, 14 wards in Emohua, and 12 wards in Okrika, while that of Rivers West Senatorial District would hold in 17 wards in Akuku-Toru, 12 wards in Ahoada-West and 12 wards in Bonny, respectively.
The statement further emphasised that the five federal constituencies where elections would hold include the same number of wards in Okrika, Ogu/Bolo, Ikwerre and Emohua, respectively.
He revealed that for Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru federal constituency, elections would hold in Akuku-Toru, whereas for Degema/Bonny federal constituency, elections would hold in Bonny just as in the case of Ahoada-West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni federal constituency, elections would hold in Ahoada-West.
Enabor charged Rivers people to be of good behaviour by comporting themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner to ensure the success of the elections in the state.
He urged eligible voters in the affected areas to turn out en masse to vote for any candidate of their choice, while reiterating the commission’s commitment towards ensuring free, fair, transparent and credible election devoid of violence.
Enabor also disclosed, yesterday, that INEC has begun picking up and distributing sensitive materials at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) vault in Port Harcourt, with the protection of security agencies, to the various local government areas of the state for the elections.
Meanwhile, the commission has restated its position on the deadline for the submission of political party agents for the March 9, elections.
A statement, yesterday, by INEC’s Head, Voter Education and Publicity, Edwin Enabor said, “Prior to the Presidential/National Assembly Elections on February 23, 2019, political parties were directed to submit their party agents list to the electoral officers in the 23 local government offices of INEC IN Rivers State.
“In line with the INEC guidelines and in accordance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the period for the submission of the list of party agents has since elapsed.
“To this extent, INEC Rivers State will only allow and accept agents with verifiable means of identification whose manes are on the list submitted by their political parties to INEC at all the polling stations and the various collation centres in the state”.
The statement also urged all INEC staff and political parties to ensure strict compliance to the directives issued to all stakeholders in the electoral process.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

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