Anambra election cancelled in 65 polling units

Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC chairman.

Prof. Attahiru Jega: advises Nigerian voters

Simon Ateba and Folarin Ademosu/Awka

The Anambra governorship election has been cancelled in 65 polling units, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, said on Saturday night.

INEC said election has been cancelled in Obosi Ward 07 and voting has now been rescheduled for Sunday..

“Due to serious logistics and related challenges, the INEC wishes to inform all Political parties, electorate and the general public that it has rescheduled the election for Obosi Registration Area of Idemili North Local government Area,” the commission said.

INEC said the election in that ward with 65 polling units will take place on Sunday 17 November 2013.

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Several candidates in the governorship race have complained about irregularities in the election, such as materials getting to voting units late, voters not finding their names on the register and so on.

However, The All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded that fresh electionsbe held in four local government areas of Anambra State, whereelection either did not hold or massive malpractices were recorded.

.In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its Interim NationalPublicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also rejectedINEC’s decision to organize fresh elections in only 65 polling unitson Sunday, saying that will not address the massive disenfranchisementof its supporters.

It listed the affected four local government areas as Idemili North,Idemili South, Awka South and Ihiala.”In Idemili North, which has the highest number of registered votersat 173,832, voting materials did not arrive as 2 pm, when voters oughtto have cast their votes; In Idemili South, with registered 85,731voters, several qualified voters were disenfranchised as their namesdid not appear on the voters’ register; In Awka South, with 118,312registered voters, the names of APC supporters were expunged from thevoters’ register and in Ihiala, massive fraudulent practices wererecorded at Uli Ward 1 polling unit and Umuchima polling unit 14”Aside from Ihiala Local Government Area, the three local councilsabove comprise 377, 875 of the total 1, 784, 536 registered voters,”APC said, adding that the affected areas were home to its supportbase.

The party said nothing short of fresh elections in the three LGs andthe cancellation of the results in the listed polling units in Ihialawould be acceptable to itFurther, the party strongly advises INEC not to declare any resultsrelating to the Governorship Election until repeat elections are heldin these areas where these irregularities occurred, more so as most ofthe party’s supporters have been disenfranchised in these areas.Alhaji Lai MohammedInterim National Publicity SecretaryAll Progressives Congress (APC)Lagos, Nov. 16th 2013

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