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JUST-IN: INEC Suspends Ekiti By-election Over Killings, Violence

Published

4 years ago

Mar 20, 2021.

The suspension of the by-election was announced by the electoral commission following the violence that occurred while the election was ongoing, leaving three people, including a policewoman, dead as earlier reported by EKOHOTBLOG.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has indefinitely suspended the Ekiti State bye-election in Ekiti State.

The suspension of the by-election was announced by the electoral commission following the violence that occurred while the election was ongoing, leaving three people, including a policewoman dead, as earlier reported by EKOHOTBLOG.

INEC, in a statement on Saturday evening, signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, said that it received a report from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State that the bye-election has been disrupted by violent attacks on voters, election officials and security personnel.

According to Okoye, the commission made adequate arrangements for the election, with personnel and materials arrived on time in all the 39 Polling Units spread across five wards of the constituency for the 23,670 registered voters to exercise their franchise in a free and fair process.

He said, “However, no sooner had voting commenced than unidentified gunmen unleashed mayhem at some Polling Units, thereby disrupting the process.

“Unfortunately, some innocent voters were shot dead, while a policeman, some INEC regular and ad hoc staff who sustained gunshot injuries during the melee are receiving medical attention.

“This situation is unacceptable. In its avowed commitment to electoral integrity, the commission has suspended the election indefinitely. To continue with the process will amount to rewarding bad behaviour. The security agencies are aware of this unfortunate situation and have commenced investigation,” Okoye said.

He also expressed the commission condolences with the innocent victims of the violence, which he said was an affront to the nation’s democracy.