INEC plans rerun, bye-elections for February 2024

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that it’s contemplating the first week of February as a potential timeframe for conducting the re-run and by-elections arising from the 2023 general elections.

At an extraordinary consultative meeting in Abuja, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu shared this information while engaging with leaders of political parties.

Yakubu highlighted that the elections aim to fill vacancies resulting from court orders, resignations, and unfortunate deaths within both the state and federal legislatures.

He revealed that as a result of the 2023 general elections, the courts have instructed the Commission to organize re-run elections in 34 constituencies, comprising one Senatorial District, 11 Federal Constituencies, and 22 State Assembly constituencies

Yakubu detailed that the elections fall into two distinct categories. As the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals finalize their proceedings following the 2023 General Election, the commission is obligated by court directives to hold re-run elections in specific constituencies.

Yakubu clarified that the upcoming elections fall into two categories. He noted that as the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals, established after the 2023 General Election, are concluding their processes, the commission is mandated by court orders to conduct re-run elections in specific constituencies

Yakubu also mentioned that INEC is tasked with conducting bye-elections to fill positions left vacant due to the passing or resignation of members within the National and State Houses of Assembly.

Yakubu clarified the commission’s aim to merge and execute both election categories simultaneously the details of which he said will be discussed at the meeting.

He said: “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 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 percent 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.

“I want to assure you that 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.

“About the bye-elections, you may recall that in my recent address at the swearing-in of new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) which was combined with our last quarterly meeting with the RECs nationwide, I made a commitment that the Commission will conduct elections to fill vacancies in the National and State Assembly constituencies

“The Commission is looking at the first week of February 2024 i.e. in just a little over one month to conduct both the re-run and bye-elections. At the end of this consultative meeting, the Commission will meet to review preparations and announce a definite date, including the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the elections.

“Full delimitation details, including locations, number of Polling Units, registered voters, and Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) collected in each constituency will be uploaded to our website for public information.”

Kanyi Daily recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over libelous allegations against its Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu.