Rivers State will on Saturday, April 13, 2019, become the second where the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct supplementary elections twice for the office of governor.
After the governorship election in 29 states, the commission conducted two supplementary elections in some polling units of Adamawa, which ended the second term ambition of incumbent Governor Jubrilla Bindow of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He was defeated by Ahmadu Fintiri, of the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The governor-elect is a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and acting Governor.
At the end of its meeting on Thursday, April 4, 2019, to review the conduct of the just concluded Rivers States election collation exercise, the commission noted that although the exercise was satisfactory, peaceful and commendable, supplementary election will hold in a total of 45 affected registration areas comprising 467 polling units and 106 voting points across the state.
A breakdown of the affected areas with a total of 261,683 registered voters, released by the commission showed that Gokana state constituency has the highest- 129,086 registered voters; 17 registration areas, 219 polling units and 41 voting points.
It is followed by Abua/Odual state constituency with 88,561 registered voters, 13 affected areas, 181 polling units and 33 voting points; followed by Ahoada West’s 36,692 potential voters; 10 registration areas, 47 Pus and 30 voting points. Opobo/Nkoro constituency has 7,344 registered voters, five registration areas affected, 20 Pus and two voting points.
The statement signed by Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, announced the setting up of a committee to a number of issues raised concerning conduct of the Imo North senatorial election held on February 23 and March 9, 2019, following a review.
The committee, which is to submit its report Wednesday, April 10, will “ascertain the veracity or otherwise of allegations of misconduct in the election” and advice INEC on whether its procedures were complied with by officials.