By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has revealed that the total number of vacancies and bye-elections to be conducted is now 14, as against 12 outstanding bye-elections in 8 States.
This is following the notifications by the Speakers of Enugu and Katsina State Houses of Assembly to the Commission of the deaths of the Members representing Isi-Uzo State Constituency of Enugu State and Bakori State Constituency of Katsina State and have declared vacancies for the said constituencies.
The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman,Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye who made this known on Tuesday, stated that the Commission has released a Harmonized Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the two constituencies.
Okoye added that the Notice of Election shall be published on 26th August 2020 and political parties shall conduct their party primaries between 27th August and 8th September 2020.
“The harmonized Timetable and Schedule of Activities has been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms”, he said.
Recall that on 11th August 2020, the Commission released the Harmonized Timetable and Schedule of Activities affecting 12 outstanding bye-elections in 8 States of the Federation scheduled for 31st October 2020.
Speaking further on conduct of Primaries for Bye-elections by Political Parties, he noted that out of the 18 registered Political Parties in Nigeria, 13 have notified the Commission of their intention to conduct primaries towards participating in the outstanding bye-elections, adding that all the 13 political parties opted for indirect primaries.
However, Okoye said it was observed from the notices to the Commission that some of the political parties did not specify the venues within the respective constituencies for the conduct of their primaries.
“The attention of political parties is hereby drawn to the provisions of Section 87(4)(c) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which makes it mandatory for any party that intends to nominate a candidate to the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly to hold its congresses in the respective Senatorial District, Federal Constituency and the State Assembly Constituency.
“We urge political parties to strictly comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines in the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates”, he ended.
