By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced Friday as a date with history, as it prepares to present the winner of the just concluded concluded Anambra governorship election, Charles Soludo with the Certificate of Return.

INEC in a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye said Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and his deputy governor-elect will be presented the certificates at the Commission’s office in Awka, the state capital.

The statement titled, "The Anambra State Governorship Election 2021’, read, "The Commission met today and “conducted an initial review of the Anambra Governorship election. The Commission is awaiting the reports of all officials deployed for the election for an in-depth review of the processes.”

“Following the conclusion of the election and as provided for in Section 75 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), certificates of return will be presented to the Governor-elect and Deputy Governor-elect tomorrow Friday 12th November 2021 at our State office in Awka.

“The 2021 Anambra State Governorship election was conducted under the most challenging circumstances. Never before did the Commission have to grapple with numerous issues ahead of an off-season Governorship election, including attacks on our facilities, withdrawals of critical service providers such as the ad hoc staff and transporters on the eve of the election and the general tension pervading the atmosphere. Happily, the election passed off peacefully.

“The Commission expresses its gratitude to the security agencies, election duty officials, political parties and candidates, the National Peace Committee under the leadership of our former Head of State, His Excellency, General Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR, religious and community leaders, socio-cultural associations, civil society organisations and the media for the enormous sacrifice and support in ensuring that the election was conducted and peacefully concluded.

“We look forward to the support of all Nigerians in the forthcoming elections. We will continue to work hard to protect the sanctity of the ballot and to conduct free, fair and credible elections anywhere in Nigeria.

The election umpire assured that only the votes cast by citizens at polling units will determine the outcome of elections.