INEC declares Ife Central election inconclusive over violence

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared the by-election ‎held at 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.