The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced it will conduct all pending bye-elections on October 31.
INEC National Commissioner and Head, Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement listed the 12 senatorial districts, states and Federal constituencies where the elections would be conducted to include Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, where candidates will jostle to replace Gov. Duoye Diri at the red chambers. Cross River North Senatorial District where the contest is to replace late Senator Rose Okoh, Imo North Senatorial District, where late Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu’s seat is up for grabs as well as Lagos East Senatorial District where candidates will battle for late Senator Bayo Osinowo’s seat.
Others include; Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Plateau South Senatorial District, Nganzai State Constituency, Borno State, Bayo State Constituency, Borno State, Obudu State Constituency, Cross River State, Kosofe II State Constituency, Lagos State, Bakura State Constituency, Zamfara State and Ibaji State Constituency, Kogi State.
Okoye in the statement revealed that the Notice of Election would be released next Monday while political parties are expected to conduct their primaries to nominate candidates between August 24 and September 8, 2020.
According to him, “The timetable and schedule of activities for the bye-elections has been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.”
The statement further urged “concerned stakeholders, particularly political parties to take note of the timelines in the schedule and strictly adhere to them.”
INEC recalled that the bye-elections fixed for October were suspended following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
It therefore assured that since then, the Commission has developed its Policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic, revised its Regulations and Guidelines and engaged with health authorities and stakeholders on conducting elections in an environment that guarantees both credibility and public safety.
