THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, April 25 for the conduct of the Ekiti governorship re-run elections in 64 wards, which results were upturned by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin on February 17, 2009.
On the heels of this, ousted Ekiti Governor, Mr. Olusegun Oni has explained why he was unable to meet the demands of the former governor of the state, Mr. Ayo Fayose, saying some of them could only be met if courts so pronounce.

At a meeting with the governorship candidates and representatives of political parties from Ekiti, in Abuja, National Chairman of INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu, also announced that no movement would be allowed in and out of Ekiti, during the 8 hours of voting, as part of the measures to ensure free and fair elections.

Mr. Oni was absent at the meeting attended by his main rival of the Action Congress (AC), Dr Kayode Fayemi.
Also present at the meeting were candidates and representatives of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP); Republican Party of Nigeria (RPN); Democratic Peoples Party (DPP); United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP); Alliance for Democracy (AD) and National Democratic Party (NDP), among others.

Announcing the date, Iwu said the Commission was acting within the ambit of the judgement that stipulates that re-run elections be held in 64 wards in the state within 90 days, saying, “we have outlined 64 wards as indicated by the court and we are going to conduct elections in those 64 wards.

“We also want to formally announce to you that the elections for those wards that we are asked to conduct elections will take place on April 25th, 2009. That is on a Saturday. It will be at the 64 wards identified by the court and the polling units will be as contained in our existing schedule,” he said.

The INEC Chairman also requested political parties fielding candidates for the elections to forward details of their agents, both at the state, local government and ward levels to the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) on or before March 31, 2009 for necessary accreditation.