Kogi and Imo States to hold 23rd July 2016 while Rivers and Kano States are to hold on 30th July 2016.
Esrlier yesterday, welcoming the stakeholders in her address, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Electoral Operations Committee, Hajiya Amina Bala Zakari said the major Stakeholders in the Electoral Process to this forum called specifically to discuss the conclusion of the suspended re-run legislative elections in Rivers, Imo and Kogi States as well as the by election in Kano.
According to her, INEC has made it a cardinal principle to consult stakeholders before any major decision is taken. While this is not a statutory obligation, we deem such consultations as necessary in building the much needed trust and bringing more transparency to the process. This is even more so considering the reason why these elections had to be suspended in the first place. If there was no violence, threats, intimidation or likelihood of a breakdown of law and order shortly before or in the course of conducting these elections in the first place, we would all probably not be here today or even if we were here, the agenda or subject of discussion would have been different.
She said before now the Commission issued a road-map towards the resolution of the impasse occasioned by the postponement of these elections. This involved assessments of the general situation in the affected areas by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners and the Security Agencies, consultations with stakeholders especially the candidates and political parties at the local and national levels, mediation by professional mediators as well as traditional rulers, religious leaders and community groups which has led to unequivocal undertakings and firm commitments towards the peaceful conduct of the polls.
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