January 16, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed Saturday, February 26, 2022 as the date for the conduct of six by-elections in Ondo, Plateau, Cross River and Imo States to fill elective positions left vacant due to the death of the previous occupants and substantial disruption of the electoral process.
The Commission, in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, said the elections would hold in Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency, Ondo State; Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and Pankshin South State Constituency in Plateau State; Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State Constituency in Cross River State; and Ngor-Okpala State Constituency in Imo State.
INEC said the elections will hold in February so as to enable it focus on the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, as well as its preparation for the 2023 general election.
The statement reads in part, “The Commission considered the issues that led to the vacancies and the rescheduling of some of the elections, as well as the security situation in some of the states. It decided to combine the Ekiti East 1 State Constituency election with the governorship election in Ekiti, which will hold on June 18, 2022.
“The Commission is consulting with security agencies and the critical stakeholders relating to the vacancy in Shinkafi State Constituency of Zamfara State, while the Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly has not declared a vacancy in relation to Giwa State Constituency of Kaduna State.”
It further said that the official notification for the elections will be published on Monday, January 24, 2022.
INEC said, “Political parties shall conduct their primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the primaries between January 26 and February 56, 2022, while the last day for submission of the list of nominated candidates is 6pm on February 9, 2022. This must be done through the Commission’s online nomination portal. Political parties shall submit the names of their polling agents for the election to the Electoral Officer of the local government area on or before February 12, 2022 and campaigns by political parties shall stop on February 24, 2022. The Access Code for the nomination forms shall be available for collection as from February 5, 2022 at the Commission’s headquarters.
“Political parties fielding candidates for the bye-elections must comply with the activities and timelines set out in the timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of the bye-election and conduct transparent and valid direct or indirect primaries, in accordance with the dictates of sections 85 and 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 [As amended]. Political parties must note that the aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of voting shall be declared the winner of the primary of the party and the aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Commission as the candidate of the party.
“Political parties that present to the Commission the name of a candidate who does not meet the qualifications stipulated in the Constitution and the Electoral Act shall be guilty of an offence and upon conviction they shall be liable to a maximum fine of N500, 000.00. The detailed timetable and schedule of activities has been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.”
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
