INEC fixes dates for Rivers, Lagos, FCT rerun elections

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has fixed the dates for the conduct of the outstanding rerun elections in Rivers, Lagos states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Commission was however silent on the Anambra Central Senatorial rerun, which has been vacant since the Appeal Court judgement of December last year, which nullified the election of Senator Uche Ekwunife.
The Prof Mahmud Yakubu-led INEC confirmed this in a statement on Thursday by its Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu.
The Commission disclosed that the suspended National and State House of Assembly elections in Rivers State will hold on December 10.
The House of Representatives rerun poll in Lagos State, it added, will now hold on December 3, the same day with the FCT Councillorship ‎election.
It will be recalled that INEC has, sometime in May, suspended the Rivers State rerun polls, citing violence and other related electoral malpractices.
The fixing of the dates for the pending elections may not be unconnected with pressure from some quarters.
The Senate, for instance, had  on Wednesday, threatened to suspend its plenary i‎f INEC fails to conduct the rerun by December this year.
This threat was sequel to a motion brought before the senators by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
But the Commission explained that the decision on the new dates was arrived at “after months of intensive planning and wide consultations‎.”