INEC Declares Anambra Governorship Election Inconclusive, To Hold Supplementary Election In Ihiala LGA On Tuesday

Independent National Electoral Commission has declared Anambra governorship election inconclusive and fixed Tuesday, November 9 for a supplementary election in Ihiala Local Government Area.

Returning Officer for Saturday’s governorship election in the state, Professor Florence Obi, announced this in the early hours of Monday.

Florence Obi, the vice-chancellor of University of Calabar, who made the declaration in the early hours of Monday, said this was because there was no election in Ihiala Local Government Area which has over 148,000 registered voters.

The decision to hold supplementary elections in Ihiala LGA follows the failure of INEC to conduct elections there on Saturday due to security challenges which made it impossible for the electoral body to deploy materials and personnel in the LGA.

Charles Soludo, candidate of 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.

The state returning officer said;

Based on constitutional provision and consideration 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.

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 to declare the winner.

Mrs Obi stated;

Therefore, it is important to complete the election in Ihiala to make this determination.

She said the supplementary election will hold on Tuesday, November 9, across 326 polling units of Ihiala.