INEC National Commissioner, Mr Festus Okoye disclosed on Tuesday that it has fixed Oct. 31 for the conduct of the 12 pending constituencies by-elections in the country.
In a statement, Mr Okoye said that the commission would have long conducted the by-elections but for the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Okoye said the commission has been able to develop “its policy on conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Several vacancies have occurred in both federal and state legislative houses as a result of resignation or death of members, affecting 12 constituencies across 8 States of the federation,” he said.
“The commission has also successfully conducted the bye-election to fill the vacancy in the Nasarawa Central State Constituency and is going ahead with the conduct of governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States on the 19th September and 10th October respectively. Consequently, the Commission is now in a position to schedule the following by-elections:
“Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Nganzai State Constituency, Borno State, Bayo State Constituency, Borno State, Cross River North Senatorial District, Obudu State Constituency, Cross River State, Imo North Senatorial District, Lagos East Senatorial District, Kosofe II State Constituency, Lagos State, Plateau South Senatorial District, Bakura State Constituency, Zamfara State, Ibaji State Constituency, Kogi State
“The commission has scheduled all the pending by-elections for Saturday 31st October 2020.”
The commissioner said political parties would conduct their primary polls to nominate candidates for the various by-elections between August 24 and September 8.
“Submission of forms and personal particulars of candidates will commence on 9th September and close at 6pm on 13th September 2020,” he said.
“The commission implores concerned stakeholders, particularly political parties to take note of the timelines in the schedule and strictly adhere to them.”
(C) Control TV 2020.
