The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed January 9 for the supplementary election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The electoral body said it arrived at the date, following a meeting with leaders of parties and candidates in the December 5 governorship election.
INEC, on December 7, cancelled the election in Southern Ijaw, following widespread violence, ballot box snatching and abduction of electoral officials.
The meeting of parties’ stakeholders was held yesterday at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja.
It was gathered that the meeting reaffirmed the commitment to the pact signed by candidates and their parties at a Peace Summit in Yenagoa, the state capital, on November 11, for free, fair and credible election in the state.
It agreed to decentralise the distribution of sensitive election materials.
The meeting was said to have called for the neutrality of security agencies and emphasised that the lead agency in the election should be the police.
INEC, it was also learnt, was asked to ensure the functionality of the Smart Card Reader (SCR) to avoid hitches in the election.
