INEC Fixes Rerun Elections For Valentine’s Day

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the supplementary election in Taraba State for February 14, which is Valentine’s Day.

Daily Report Nigeria reports that the rescheduled election will also take place in Enugu State on Wednesday next week.

INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday evening.

Last Saturday, by-elections were held in nine parliamentary and state assembly constituencies to fill seats left vacant by the death or resignation of lawmakers elected in the 2023 general elections.

Additionally, fresh elections were held in 39 constituencies by order of the Election Petitions Appeals Tribunal.

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The by-elections were successfully concluded in all scheduled constituencies except Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency.

“Here, the final declaration was postponed due to overvoting in certain Polling Units, impacting the margin of lead between the candidates with the highest number of votes.

“Regarding the re-run elections, disruptions occurred at two Polling Units in the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State and across all Polling Units in the Enugu South State Constituency of Enugu State and Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State, due to violence, thuggery and the hijacking of election materials”, said Olumekun.

He said the Commission had previously suspended the re-run elections in these areas in accordance with Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“Following additional reports from our officials in the affected States, the Commission supports the Returning Officer’s decision to announce results in the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, as the number of registered voters in the two Polling Units did not affect the outcome of the election.

“The Commission has resolved to conduct a supplementary election in Taraba State and a new re-run election in Enugu State, both scheduled for Wednesday 14th February 2024.

“Due to security concerns, the election in Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency will be held at a later date, after further discussions with security agencies and stakeholders.

“We urge all eligible voters and stakeholders in the impacted Polling Units in Taraba and Enugu States to participate peacefully in the upcoming elections and support their preferred candidates”, he added.