INEC Rules Out Conduct Of Supplementary Elections Saturday, Disowns Fake Identity Cards

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out conduct of supplementary elections arising from the Presidential and National Assembly elections together with the Governorship and State Assembly elections this Saturday.

It has also disowned fake security identity cards and the alleged woman caught in possession of batch of it.

Stressing that the Commission has not scheduled for that, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, clarified that the the supplementary elections will take place on a date to be announced by the Commission immediately after the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

His clarification is against the backdrop of earlier reports insinuating that the supplementary elections is holding today, March 18, 2023.

However, Okoye said this should not be confused with the two National Assembly elections earlier suspended by the Commission and rescheduled to hold along with the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

According to him, “First is the Enugu East Senatorial District election which was countermanded to allow the Labour Party conduct a fresh primary election to replace its deceased candidate in line with the provision of Section 34(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The second is the Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo State following issues with the ballot paper for the election. These are not supplementary but main elections that could not be held earlier.”

He advised the public to disregard any report alluding to the conduct of supplementary elections alongside the Governorship and State Aseembly elections on Saturday 18th March 2023.

On the fake identity cards for security personnel on election day, Okoye stated categorically that the identity card did not emanate from the Commission.

According to him, “Identity cards for security personnel on election duty were issued by the security agencies and not the Commission.

“Anyone bearing an identity card allegedly issued by the Commission for security personnel can only be on illegal duty. Such a person is liable to arrest and prosecution.

“The public is alerted to this diabolical action of some misdirected elements and to report any such persons to the security agencies.”