By Godfrey AKON
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said it is working towards conducting conduct re-run and bye-elections elections in some constituencies early in February 2024.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this during an extraordinary meeting with political parties on Monday in Abuja.
Yakubu said the commission is required to conduct re-run elections in some constituencies by court order and bye-elections to fill vacancies arising from the death or resignation of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.
“First, as the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals set up in the aftermath of the 2023 General Election gradually wind up their proceedings, the Commission is required to conduct re-run elections in some constituencies by court order, secondly; the Commission is also required to conduct bye-elections to fill vacancies arising from the death or resignation of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.
According to him, the commission intends to combine and conduct the two categories of elections on the same day, the details of which will be discussed at the meeting.
“As you are aware, re-run elections only involve the parties and candidates that participated in the general election unless a party wishes to replace a deceased candidate. However, bye-elections are fresh elections. Consequently, political parties must conduct fresh primaries within the limited period of time provided by law.
“So far, the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals have ordered the Commission to conduct re-run elections in 34 constituencies made up of one Senatorial District, 11 Federal Constituencies and 22 State Assembly Constituencies.
“However, the 34 constituencies constitute 2.8% of the 1,191 petitions filed by litigants. Significantly, out of the 34 re-run elections, it is only in three cases that the Commission was ordered to conduct elections in the entire constituencies. In the other 31 constituencies, elections are to be held in a few polling units.
“At the end of all the litigations, including the Governorship Elections pending on appeal at the Supreme Court, the Commission will present a comprehensive analysis of the petitions, including cases where the Commission was ordered to issue Certificates of Return to other candidates and the reasons for the decisions by the Courts as part of the lessons learned from the 2023 General Election for the consequential reforms to improve the conduct of future elections,” he said.
According to him, the commission will meet to review preparations and announce a definite date, including the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the elections.
He added that full delimitation details, including locations, number of Polling Units, registered voters, and Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, collected in each constituency will be uploaded to INEC website for public information.
