THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has announced that the supplementary election for Ihiala Local Government will commence today at 10am and end at 4 p.m.
According to a statement signed on Monday by Barrister Festus Okoye, National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, the decision was taken following a careful review of the prevailing situation in Anambra state and is in consonance with the stakeholders including security agencies.
“The Commission urges political parties, voters, election duty officials, election observers, the media and the general public to note this slight modification. We also appeal to citizens to conduct themselves in an orderly manner to ensure that the election is brought to a peaceful conclusion,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP), in the Anambra governorship election, Mr Valentine Ozigbo, has said today’s supplementary election will be in his favour.
He said with last minute consultation with relevant stakeholders across party line in Ihiala Local Government Area, victory is sure for him, PDP and the people of Anambra. INEC had announced the election result of 20 out of 21 local government areas in the state, with the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) leading, followed by Ozigbo.
Ozigbo, while addressing the press, on Monday, in Awka, advised co-contestants to shun sentimental politics, stressing that such practices will hinder the state from development.
“My happiness is that the election is not yet over, and I believe that with the ongoing consultation with Ihiala people, based on my long time relationship with them, I will be declare the winner, by God’s grace.
“We have the statistics, and know the areas where INEC could not conduct election on Saturday, and we call on them to ensure they do so.
“With over 248,000 votes at stake in Ihiala and other places where election did not take place, the party still has hope of producing the next governor,” Ozigbo said.
He appealed to the people of Ihiala and other areas to come out en mass to vote for PDP as a better alternative in the state governance.