By Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin 

‎The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has sacked two of its electoral officers in Oredo and Orhiomwon local government areas of Edo state over the disappearance of result sheets meant to be used during the 28 March presidential and National Assembly elections.

The firing of the two errant officials was announced in Benin on Tuesday by the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mike Igini, when he met with leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state.

The REC told the political leaders that other officers of the commission were also being investigated over alleged fraudulent activities during the March 28 polls and that anyone found guilty would be prosecuted.

He said further that after a meeting with the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, in Abuja, it was decided that elections will be conducted in the areas where they were postponed due to late arrival of voting materials and disappearance of result sheets.

Igini listed the areas where elections are to be conducted to include the whole of Orhiomwon LGA, six wards in Uhumwonde LGA, some wards and units in Ikpoba Okhai, Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Oredo LGAs.

He explained that the winner of the Edo South Senatorial District seat would emerge through a simple majority and that there had to be an election in the areas for a victor to emerge.

“Orhiomwon election is also very important because apart from the senate, we also have a House of Representatives seat at stake in that area. So the result will also be determined after the Orhionmwon and Uhumwonde elections,” Igini said.

The political leaders did not agree on the areas where elections had to be rescheduled and tempers flared as Igini announced the places where the polls were to be newly conducted.

Particularly miffed at the rescheduling of elections in some areas were PDP leaders, including the state chairman of the party, Dan Orbih, former deputy governor, Lucky Imasuen and Osagie Ize-Iyamu who insisted that election held in some parts of Orhiomnwon and wanted the results announced.