The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given assurance to Nigerians that it will conduct credible and seamless rerun elections in Enugu State on February 3.
This announcement was made by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, during a stakeholders meeting in Enugu on Friday.
Chukwu revealed that preparations for the rerun elections in Udenu/Igbo-eze North Federal Constituency and Enugu South Urban State Constituency were nearing completion.
The rerun elections will be conducted in 25 Registration Areas, covering 173 polling units across the state.
For the Enugu South Urban State Constituency, rerun elections will take place in eight polling units with discrepancies, as mandated by the court.
In the Udenu/Igbo-eze North Federal Constituency, comprising Udenu and Igbo-eze North council areas, elections will be held in 55 polling units in Udenu council and 110 polling units in Igbo-eze North council.
Chukwu emphasized that INEC is operating under the court’s order, which stipulated a 90-day timeframe for the rerun elections. The commission has set February 3, 2024, as the date for the rerun elections.
Chukwu stated, “Working under the order of the court, which specified 90 days for conduct of the rerun elections, the commission has fixed Feb. 3, 2024 for the rerun elections.
“We are prepared and have made necessary arrangements for hitch-free and inclusive rerun elections; that is the essence of this important stakeholder meeting.
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“Presently, we have non-sensitive materials in INEC offices in the various council areas involved in the rerun elections.
“The stakeholders will be carried along to unveil and monitor the sensitive materials as they arrive a few hours toward the Election Day proper through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Enugu branch.”
Chukwu reassured that all political parties that participated in the initial election would be involved in the rerun, emphasising the need for maximum cooperation from political parties for a successful exercise.
“INEC is poised to conduct free, fair, credible and transplant rerun elections.
“Personally, I am also assuring stakeholders of keeping to the timing scheduled of 8a.m. start of the election; and other modalities and arrangement will also be intact,” he added.