The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday presented Certificate of Return to Delta state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Deputy and running mate in the March 9, 2019 governorship election, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro.
INEC also presented certificates of return to twenty four of the twenty nine House of Assembly members elected and withhold four others over “unresolved court cases”.
Those withheld were the three constituencies won by the All Progressives Congress (APC), namely Ethiope East, Ughelli North 1 & 2 as well as the Ukwuani state constituency, which was won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Although Ndokwa North East constituency was not mentioned among those withheld, but the member-elect and deputy speaker of the Delta state house of assembly, Rt. Hon. Friday Osanebi was absent and was not presented the certificate of return.
Governor Okowa, while receiving the certificate at INEC office in Asaba, thanked Deltans, the INEC, security agencies and all those who played different roles during the elections, saying “the election was adjudged as very peaceful in Delta State.”
He however noted that four lives were lost during the election, three in the presidential and national assembly elections and one during the governorship and house of assembly elections.
He urged stakeholders to imbibe lessons from the 2019 general elections and redress the pitfalls in subsequent polls.
“In the next four years, we will do much more than we have done in the last four years; in 2023, people will judge us based on our performance and we are committed to be accountable to God and our people,” he said.
In his remarks, INEC National Commissioner, Dr Mohammed Lecky, who presented the Certificates of Return, congratulated the governor and all those who won in the elections.
“Today’s event is the highpoint of one of the legal requirements on the journey to assumption of office, after being elected.
“Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides for the issuance of certificate of return to elected candidates by the INEC and by this event, the Commission has complied with the requirement of law in this regard,” Dr Lecky said.
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