INEC’s National Commissioner in-charge of Operations, HajiaAminaZakari, disclosed this yesterday, at a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt. Zakari stated that it would not be possible to conduct the legislative rerun elections in September, as a result of the Edo State governorship election that would come up soon. She further stated that, INEC needed time to budget, plan,train and post the personnel for the elections, regretting the circumstances that led to the suspension of the elections, adding that INEC needed to re-strategize, so as to avoid a repeat of the past mistakes. The INEC Commissioner said, “The primary responsibility of INEC is to ensure sustenance of democracy, via peaceful elections, and we need your cooperation, and support to achieve this noble objective.” In his opening remark, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Elder AniediIkoiwak, who regretted the state of elections in the state, expressed optimism that at the end of the meeting, all sensitive issues relating to the elections would have been resolved. for the purpose of peaceful elections. Ikoiwak further commended the politicians and other stakeholders for their large turnout, even at a short notice to the meeting. In his contribution, the Rivers State chairman for Inter-Agencies for Peaceful Elections and the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Francis Odesanya, promised the Police would be professionally focused during the election.]]>