INEC Deploys National Commissioner, Three RECS For Benue Rerun

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has deployed ness than one National Commissioner and three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECS) to Benue State for today’s Governorship and State Assembly rerun elections.

Addressing newsmen in Makurdi yesterday at the INEC headquarters, the National Commissioner in charge Voter Education, Festus Okoye, assured the people of the Commission’s neutrality in the supplementary election, saying: “INEC is determine to conduct a transparent, credible, free and fair rerun election in the state.” Okoye also said all the sensitive and non- sensitive materials meant for the rerun in the state had been dispatched, adding that the only challenge facing the Commission is security.

“We have held series of meet- ings with security and they have assured us of adequate security. Benue voters are entitled to peaceful election and INEC is determined to conduct a peaceful supplementary election in the state.

“INEC knows that the whole world is watching and international observers are already here and we cannot afford to fail or disappoint the people,” he stated.

He further disclosed that the Oju/obi Federal Constituency was experiencing some problems because only one council out of the two in the constituency turned in result during the election, noting that the returning officer for the election had in his report also alleged that the declaration was made under duress. “For that reason, we have not issued Certificate of Return to the affected candidate, who allegedly won the election,” Okoye added.