Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki

Twentyfour members-elect of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, yesterday, received their certificates of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The certificates were issued to them at the headquarters of the commission in Abakaliki, the state capital, in the presence of some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) faithful, its leadership and the wives of the male members-elect.

This was even as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Godswill Obioma, announced that the state governor-elect, David Umahi, and the deputy governor-elect, Dr. Kelechi Igwe,  would receive their own certificates of return at a later date.

Umahi, who is also the governor of the state, according to the REC, took permission from the national headquarters of INEC, through its state office, that he would be unavoidably absent.

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The incoming lawmakers, it was gathered, were all elected at the just concluded governorship and House of Assembly elections in the state on the platform of the PDP.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Obioma, commended the staff of the commission for ‘diligent service’ carried out during the polls.

“I think we’ve done relatively well. We’ve been adjudged to have conducted the best election in the state. We thank the people of Ebonyi for behaving well,” Obioma said.

Speaking on behalf of the members-elect, one of them, Francis Nwifuru of Izzi West constituency, thanked Ebonyi electorate for finding them worthy to be so elected.

Nwifuru, who is the current speaker of the state House of Assembly, said the incoming lawmakers, as soon as they are inaugurated, would hit the ground running, to ensure they justify the confidence reposed in them by the people who voted for them.