The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed June 19, 2021 for the conduct of bye-elections in Gwaram Federal Constituency of Jigawa state and Sabon Gari State Constituency of Kaduna state.
According to INEC, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila declared vacancy for Gwaram Federal Constituency of Jigawa State following the death on 4th March 2021 of the serving member for the Constituency, Hon. Yuguda Hassan Kila, while the seat of the Member representing Sabon Gari State Constituency, Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Shagali was declared vacant as a result of the absence without just cause from one-third of the meetings of the Assembly for one year in contravention of Section 109 (1)[f] and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Making these known in two separate press statements on Friday, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye noted that the official notification for the elections will be published on 17th May 2021 and political parties will conduct their primaries between 18th and 24th May 2021.
He added that the Access Code for online submission of nomination forms will be available for collection from 24th May 2021 at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja while the last day for submission of list of nominated candidates is 28th May, 2021 at 6.00pm.
According to him, “Political parties shall submit the names of their Polling Agents for the election to the INEC Electoral Officer for Gwaram Local Government Area on/or before 1st June 2021 and campaigns by political parties shall end on 17th June 2021.
“The detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the bye-election has been uploaded on the Commission’s website and other social media platforms.
“The Commission wishes to reiterate that since work on the expansion of voter access to Polling Units in the country is ongoing, the bye-election will hold in the existing Polling Units and Voting Points across the Constituency covering Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State”, he said.
The Commission enjoined all political parties to strictly adhere to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities and avoid rancorous primaries and violence during the campaigns and throughout the electoral process.
Furthermore political parties were mandated to pay attention to section 87 of the Electoral Act relating to the nomination processes and submit to the Commission the names and particulars of candidates that scored majority of lawful votes and emerged from valid party primaries.
