The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the conduct of bye-elections resulting from the resignation or demise of members of the national and state assemblies would be held February 3, 2024.
A statement issued Friday by the national commissioner and chairman of the information, voter education committee, Sam Olumekun, approving the timetable and schedule of activities, said “these vacancies were declared by the Senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, and speakers of state Houses of Assembly.”
The statement added that the Commission would also conduct re-run elections stemming from the 2023 general elections, as directed by various Election Petition Appeal Tribunals.
The statement indicated that currently, “35 constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections,” adding that “while three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few polling units.”
The statement read in part, “The Commission has approved the time-table and schedule of activities for conducting bye-elections resulting from the resignation or demise of members of the national and state assemblies.
“These vacancies were declared by the presiding officers i.e. the Senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, and speakers of Houses of Assembly.
“The vacancies occurred across two senatorial districts, four federal constituencies, and three state constituencies spanning nine states of the federation.”
It read further, “Furthermore, the Commission is conducting re-run elections stemming from the 2023 General Election, as directed by various Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. Currently, 35 constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections. While three cover all constituencies, others involve only a few polling units.
“Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday 3rd February 2024.
“The time-table for the elections, along with detailed delimitation data (i.e. registration areas, polling unit names, the number of registered voters and PVCs collected), has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms as a guide to political parties and candidates, and for public information.
“We urge parties and candidates to strictly adhere to the specified timelines for the seamless conduct of these elections.”
