By  Festus Ahon

ASABA—THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said the judgment of the Delta State Election Petition Tribunal, upholding the elections of all those elected into the state House of Assembly, National Assembly as well as the governorship election, has vindicated the commission in the conduct of the 2015 elections in the state.

This came as reactions continued to trail the tribunal judgment which upheld the election of the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, with prominent Deltans describing the verdict as a reflection of the will of the people.

INEC, speaking through its acting National Chairman, Hajiya Amina Zakari, during the commissioning of a multi-purpose conference hall at the Delta State INEC office headquarters in Asaba, constructed by the commission in the state under the leadership of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Elder Abasi Aniedi Ikoiwak,  insisted that the commission did its best in conducting the 2015 general elections in line with international best practices.

Commending the peaceful and successful conduct of the general elections in Delta State and other states of the country, she said the new leadership of INEC would not leave any stone unturned to rid the commission of any form of malpractice and election irregularity in the conduct of elections.

Represented by one of the National Commissioners, Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku,   Zakari congratulated the REC for the conference hall and the presentation of awards to his staff for improved productivity in the commission.

According to her, the headquarters of the commission would address the challenges facing the Delta State headquarters of the commission, adding that the commission, during  Professor Attahiru Jega’s tenure, constantly promoted staff and enhanced their welfare.

Earlier, the REC, Elder Abasi Ikoiwak, pledged to sustain and add value to the feat the commission had recorded in its resolve to entrench democracy in the country.

Meanwhile, more reactions have continued to trail the tribunal judgment which upheld the election of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, some prominent Deltans, describing the court verdict as a reflection of the will of the people of the State.

Those who spoke included Mr.  Henry Baro, Mr Steve Ovedje and Mr Osimo Bayagbon.

The trio who are chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, in their separate interviews, congratulated Governor Okowa, insisting that the will of the people was incontestable.