BY DAYO JOHNSON

AKURE—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ondo State has declared the last Saturday’s Ilaje/Ese Odo Federal Constituency by-election inconclusive.

Mr. Babatunde Adeyemi, the returning officer for the election, made the announcement yesterday at Igbokoda.

But the ruling Labour Party, LP, has expressed shock at what it termed ‘the reluctance of INEC returning officer to declare the winner of the by-election into Ilaje, Ese-Ondo Federal Constituency’.

The INEC returning Officer for the election, Mr.  Adeyemi explained that the decision to declare the poll inconclusive was hinged on the fact that the difference of about 1,300 votes between the purported winner and the runner up was far less than the number of cancelled votes.

He pointed out that over 7,000 voters could not participate in the election.

According to him; “This has violated the electoral law and hence the need for INEC to conduct supplementary elections in areas where elections could not hold.

“I cannot return the Labour Party candidate despite polling the highest number of votes as the electoral law empowers INEC to declare such elections inconclusive.”

Adeyemi added that INEC would announce the date for a supplementary election where elections could not hold.

But a  statement by LP State Chairman in Akure, Chief Dele Akinyele said: “It is instructive to note that the election took place and returns were made in 21 out of 22 wards that made up the Federal Constituency.

“The returning officer’s duty is to collate the lawful votes from various units and wards, and declare the candidate that scored majority of lawful votes.

“The election tribunal, which was constituted by the President of the Court of Appeal has the sole responsibility and duty to determine any complaint of irregularity or compliance, or non- compliance with the law.

“The use of the word ‘inconclusive’ introduced by the returning officer to abort the will of the people will not be applicable in this case because the only condition for declaration is that, the candidate must score majority of lawful votes; which has been satisfied in this case.”