By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that except the security of lives and properties of the Commission’s staff, ad hoc workers, electorates and security agencies, the Ekiti East House of Assembly Constituency 1 bye-election will not hold.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti state Dr. Adeniran Tella made this declaration last week in his office in Ado Ekiti while addressing the Election Stakeholders Meeting ahead of the Ekiti East House of Assembly Constituency 1 bye-election.
Dr. Tella lamented that INEC has several times attempted to conduct the bye-election in that constituency but each time violence that have even claimed lives and properties of INEC staffers, security agencies and electorates erupted.
Said he: “this Constituency 1 election appears to have been jinxed. On three occasions in the past, we have conducted this election. The first time being during the 2019 General Elections of 9th March, 2019 but eventually engulfed with violence which rendered it inconclusive in four Polling Units covering Wards 9 (Obadoore IV) and Ward 6 (Obadoore1)”
Continuing Dr. Tella said he called for the meeting to acquaint himself the more with the Stakeholders, adding that he called them to share with them some of INEC activities of recent as the year comes to a close end and prepare for the Ekiti East House of Assembly Constituency 1 bye-election.
Dr. Tella said: “INEC has spent colossal amount of money in the last three times we have conducted this election. In fact, the mood at the Commission now is that nothing short of expression of firm commitment by the stakeholders to give peace a chance and make themselves ready to cooperate with INEC including giving maximum support to the security agencies to be able to do their job would be acceptable”.
“Candidly, a commitment to support and cooperate with INEC and partnering with the security agencies to maintain law and order cannot be seen to be too much demand INEC should ask from the stakeholders.
However, the Commission remains resolute and wholesomely committed to conducting free, fair, credible and acceptable elections based on its mandate and that informed its decisions to ensure all constituencies where elections are yet to be conducted to fill available vacancies are done and dusted ahead of 2023 General Elections.
“In essence, the Commission is not prepared to deny any constituency of its representation at whatever level.
Conclusively, the bitter truth is that the Commission cannot continue to be exhausting its financial worth in futility except the concerned stakeholders are ready to allow peace to reign to enable us midwife a peaceful bye-election in the place”.
