The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the April 11 elections in those states inconclusive following discrepancies.
Similar supplementary elections will be held today in eight other states in respect of the last Senatorial (1),House of Representatives (1)and State Assembly (22)polls.
The commission and the Police have deployed very senior officials to the affected states to ensure a peaceful conduct of the elections.
INEC posted three National Commissioners to each of the states on supervisory duties.
They will be assisted by three Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) besides the substantive RECs in the affected states.
The acting Inspector General of Police,Mr.Solomon Arase, deployed a Deputy Inspector General, four Assistant Inspectors General and seven Commissioners of Police to the Abia, Imo and Taraba states.
The supplementary governorship election in Abia State will take place in 276 polling units across nine local government areas: Aba North, Aba South, Ikwuano, Ohiafia, Osisioma, Ugwunagbo, Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Umunneochi.
A total of 179,224 registered as voters in the nine LGAs.
One hundred and fourty four thousand, seven hundred and fifteen people are expected to vote in 256 polling units in Isiala Mbano, Isu, Oguta and Ikeduru local government area of Imo while 127, 125 will vote in 159 polling units across 10 local government areas in Taraba: Bali Zing, Takum, Yorro, Donga, Wukari, Ussa, Karim Lamido, Kurmi and Jalingo.
Senatorial, House of Representatives and State Assembly supplementary elections are due in Akwa Ibom, Corss River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Gombe, Niger and Kogi.
INEC said yesterday that it had deployed three directing staff from the headquarters to each of the affected states to coordinate the operations, “while some other staff from the headquarters have been deployed to the states as monitors. In addition, Electoral Officers (EOs) from neighbouring states will be on ground to assist the EOs of the affected LGAs.”
It spoke of its determination to “ensure that the supplementary elections are free, fair, credible and peaceful.”
It urged voters to conduct themselves peacefully and in accordance with set procedures of the elections and the Police to “ensure compliance by political actors with the restriction on movement in places where the elections are holding.”
The Force Headquarters, in a separate statement,said a DIG, an AIG and two Commissioners of Police will take charge of security in Abia State today,while an Assistant Inspector-General of Police and three Commissioners of Police will oversee the election in Imo State.
Two Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and two Deputy Commissioners of Police are in Taraba State for the same purpose.
The police said there will be no vehicular movement in the affected areas between 8am and 5pm,pointing out that: “This restriction of vehicular movements order affects movements in and out of the areas where the rerun elections are to take place, except for ambulances, fire Service trucks and others on essential duties.
“Consequently, travellers and citizens who intend to ply roads within those hours are advised to plan alternative routes.”
The police warned government officials and political office holders not to go to polling units with uniformed orderlies or aides, while persons who have no business with voting must not be found within 300 metres of a polling unit.
Meanwhile, security has already been beefed up in Taraba State for the rerun election.
Although, 11 candidates were fielded by their political parties for the contest, the final battle is between Darius Dickson Ishaku of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Aisha Jummai Alhassan of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
From the collation of votes cast on April 11, Ishaku, an architect and former Minister of Power, Environment and Niger Delta Affairs, is leading with 54,812 votes. He won the election in nine of the 16 local government councils with 317,198 votes, while Alhassan, a lawyer and serving Senator representing Northern Taraba district, trailed with 262,386 votes garnered in LGAs.
INEC’s Returning Officer for Taraba, Prof. Mohammed Kyari, declared the election as inconclusive on the grounds that the number of rejected votes 127,125 was more than the number of the difference in votes 54,812 (margin) between PDP and APC.
Tension is high in the air in Abia State ahead of the supplementary election following the placing of coffins in some parts of the commercial city of Aba by some people to intimidate voters.
Each of the coffins carried inscriptions such as “Vote against Ngwa interest and die” and “If we don’t get the governorship seat kidnapping will be revived”.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Dan Azumi Doma yesterday met with stakeholders in the supplementary election ,warning against engaging in any electoral fraud as the police and other security agencies are ready for such illegal acts.
The two main contenders in the election are Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP and Dr. Alex Otti of APGA.
Owerri, the Imo State capital, was relatively calm yesterday after days of protests by PDP supporters calling for the total cancellation of the April 11 governorship election.
INEC said warned yesterday that there will not be manual accreditation of voters today.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Job Doma leading an Assistant Inspector General of Police, Olufemi Adeleke, and two Commissioners of Police in charge of anti-terrorism told reporters yesterday that all the security agencies would exhibit a high level of professionalism throughout the conduct of the election.
The leading candidates in the supplementary election are Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State who is seeking re-election on the platform of the APC and Honourable Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP.