Anambra decides: Why INEC suspended collation of results

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the collation of results of the Anambra elections, citing that elections in the Ihiala Local Government Area must be conducted Tuesday, Nov. 9.

This was disclosed by Prof. Florence Obi, INEC Returning Officer for the Anambra Governorship election and Chancellor of the University of Calabar on Sunday in Awka.

She stated that election activities were suspended in the area due to security reasons, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

She stated that it would be wrong to announce the result without allowing people in 131 polling units in Ihiala to be counted.

“As the Electoral Officer, I hereby announce the suspension of results until elections are held in all the polling units in Ihiala. Supplementary election will take place in the area on Nov. 9,” she said.

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Before the announcement, INEC had already stated that Prof. Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) polled a total of 103, 946 votes followed by Mr. Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 51,322 votes to emerge second. Sen. Andy Uba, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate got a total of 42,942 votes to emerge the third position,

INEC added that Soludo won in 18 out of the 20 Local Government Areas of the State already declared.

The former CBN Governor won in areas including; Dunukofia, Awka South, Oyi, Anaocha, Ayamelum, Anambra East, Idemili South, Onitsha South, Njikoka, Orumba South, Onitsha North, Idemili North, Ekwusigo, Aguata, Orumba North and Nnewi South Local Government Areas.

INEC also added that a total number of valid votes already collated was 229,521, void votes was 7,841 while total number of votes cast was 237,362, as they await final results from Ihiala.