The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) met today for its 41st ordinary meeting of 2017 and considered, among other things, the case of the outstanding election to fill the seat for the Anambra Central Senatorial District. It would be recalled that the 2015 election to fill the seat was nullified by the Election Tribunal. Since then, there have been several court cases on the matter.
On Monday, November 20th, 2017, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja delivered a judgment in which it ordered INEC to conduct the rerun election within 90 days of the judgment. Following the determination of this case, INEC has decided that all encumbrances to conduct the rerun election have now been removed. Consequently, there is presently no court order restraining INEC from conducting the election.
The Commission has considered the all the circumstances surrounding the election particularly the 90-day timeframe ordered by the Court of Appeal, the demands for preparing adequately for the election as well as the coming Yuletide and decided that the rerun election shall take place on Saturday, January 13th, 2018.
The Commission thanks all stakeholders, particularly the people of Anambra Central Senatorial District for their patience. We hope that the delay has served to clarify some grey areas in our electoral process to make it stronger, freer, fairer and more credible.
