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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has ruled out the possibility of cancelling last weekend’s governorship election in Anambra State as demanded by the losers. The electoral umpire advised the losers to go to court because an election cannot be cancelled once a returning officer has announced the result.

Though Obiano (174,710 votes) beat PDP’s Comrade Tony Nwoye (94,956 votes) in the election, INEC refused to declare him winner on the grounds that the margin of victory was lower than the number of cancelled votes. The commission, rather, announced that it would organise supplementary election in 210 polling units spread across 16 local government areas in the state where the election was cancelled.

However, Nwoye, third-placed Chris Ngige of APC and fourth-placed Ifeanyi Ubah of Labour Party have been clamouring for the cancellation of the entire ballot.

Reacting to their request, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, told newsmen yesterday in Abuja: “This is the position of the law. There is no way INEC as a commission can cancel the outcome of the Anambra governorship election, because the returning officer has announced the results.

“The best option for any aggrieved political party or candidate is to take his or her grievances to the courts or election tribunal as the case may be.

“The issue of supplementary election is a policy decision of the Election Management Board (EMB). When the officials come back from the election duty in Anambra, they will submit their report and the commission will study it before coming out with dates for the supplementary election.”

•Photo shows INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega.

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