INEC to issue certificates of return to Rivers Governor-elect, others, March 29

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers says it will issue Certificates of Return to the Governor-elect, Deputy Governor-elect and State House of Assembly members-elect on March 29.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr .Johnson Alalibo, made this known on Monday in a statement signed by Mr Mark Usulor, the Commission’s Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity in the state.

Alalibo said that the Commission would issue the certificates of return to affected persons in a accordance with Section 72(1)of the Electoral Act 2022.

According to the statement, the Act mandates the Commission to issue a certificate of return within 14 days to every candidate who has been returned elected under the law.

It stated that the event would hold by 10.00 a.m. at the commission’s state headquarter in Portharcourt.

Our correspondent recalls that INEC, on March, 20, declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr Siminalayi Fubara, winner of the March 18 Governorship election in Rivers.

Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, the state’s Returning Officer, who declared the PDP candidate winner at the INEC, said that the PDP candidate won the election with 302,614 votes.