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Save for an intervention today, Imo State may be the first state
to face an emergency rule on account of a failure to meet the election
deadline. Under the amended constitution and the Electoral Act, all elections
must be completed one month before the inauguration date, May 29.

As at today, April 29, Imo State remains the only state yet to
conclude its gubernatorial election. Election was held on Tuesday in the state,
but the results were declared inconclusive by the Independent National
Electoral Commission, (INEC).

INEC said a rerun will be conducted in three local government
areas of the state before a winner can be determined between incumbent, Ikedi
Ohakim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and front runner, Rochas Okorocha
of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

For a commission pressured with several deadlines after repeated
rescheduling of elections, conducting fresh polls in the affected areas of the
state today, just two days after the shift was announced, is “unlikely”, INEC
officials said yesterday.

If a winner does not emerge at the end of today, it will create
a “power vacuum” as INEC chairman Attahiru Jega put it last week when concerns
were raised about the possibility of concluding gubernatorial elections in
violence-hit Bauchi and Kaduna states. Mr Jega said the commission will do
everything to avoid an emergency rule in any part of the country but noted that
such efforts were limited.

INEC yesterday issued a statement urging calm while it consults
on the legal implications.

“In view of the difficulties experienced with the April 26, 2011
governorship and state assembly election in Imo State, which caused the
returning officer to declare the election inconclusive, the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) has consulted with its lawyers for advice
on the next line of action.” read a statement signed by Kayode Idowu,
spokesperson to Mr Jega.

Mr Idowu said the commission is scheduled to meet today, Friday,
April 29, to take a final decision, he urged “everyone concerned to be patient
and await further directives which will be communicated as soon as a decision
is taken, and to be peaceful and avoid taking the laws into their hands.”

Tensed atmosphere

Following Tuesday’s stalemate however, some incidents raised
suspicion and set the stage for the tension in Owerri, the capital of Imo
State. At the INEC office, scores of youth congregated and prevented vehicles
from entering the premises to avoid the smuggling of material into the office.