The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the bye-election ‎held Saturday in Ife Central State Constituency in Osun State inconclusive.

The Returning Officer, ‎Dr Francis Oladimeji, who made the announcement after the collation of results from the 11 wards in the state constituency, said the result could not be declared because of the violence which led to the disruption of collation at two polling units.

According to him, fresh election would be held on Sunday in the two affected polling units, Agbedegbede and Moore Ojaja, both in Ward Three in Ife Central State Constituency.

He explained that the report of violence recorded at the two polling units led to the cancellation of 872 votes, saying the margin between the two leading candidates was 710, making it imperative to conduct a fresh election, as stipulated in the Electoral Act.

Dr Oladimeji further explained that ‎the number of cancelled votes exceeded the difference between the two leading candidates.

There were reports that suspected political thugs had earlier disrupted voting process at the two polling units, with attempts to snatch ballot boxes from INEC ad-hoc staff.

In a related development, the Federal Capital Territory Council polls also held yesterday recorded a low turnout of voters amidst tight security.

However, the situation was different in the outskirts of the city centre, where turn out of voters can be said to be impressive.

Many of the voters said that voting started at 7:45 a.m. amidst tight security by officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.

Some agents of political parties participating in the area council elections in Abuja commended the FCT INEC for distributing election materials on time.

Meanwhile, a representative of INEC said the late arrival of security officials to the distribution venue was the initial challenge they had.

The INEC official, however, assured that the Commission has deployed enough personnel to handle the conduct of the election.

Officials started leaving for their pooling units with voting materials as early as 7:25AM.

Six area councils namely Karu, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Gwagwalada, Kuje, Bwari and Kwali are participating in the exercise expected to elect chairmen and councillors into the area councils.

•Pieced together from separate stories by Channels TV. Photo shows INEC Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu.

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