The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates contesting the February 3, bye-elections to fill vacant seats in the Senate, House of Representatives, and state Houses of Assembly.
The vacancies were created as a result of the resignation and death of elected members, reports The Nation.
Two seats are vacant in the Senate due to resignation by elected Senators to take up the appointment in the Executive arm of government, three seats became vacant in the House of Representatives due to resignation, and one due to death.
In a statement in Abuja today Wednesday, January 17, the national commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun said the list published in the state offices of three Commission and the affected constituencies is for the hype elections only.
He said the rerun elections which are court-ordered elections will feature only candidates and political parties that participated in the 2023 general elections as no new candidates will be allowed to participate in the rerun elections
The statement reads: “Nigerians may recall that recently the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for bye-elections arising from the death or resignation of Members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.
“These elections will be held on Saturday 3rd February 2024 across nine States of the Federation covering two Senatorial Districts (Ebonyi South and Yobe East); four Federal Constituencies (Shanga/Ngaski/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Akoko North East/Akoko North-West Federal Constituency of Ondo State and Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State); and three State Constituencies (Guma I State Constituency of Benue State, Chibok State Constituency of Borno State and Chikun State Constituency of Kaduna State).
“As provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the personal particulars and final list of candidates have been published today in our State offices and the affected constituencies pursuant to the provision of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022. The list of candidates is also published on our website and social media platforms.
“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinize the personal particulars (Form EC9 and academic credentials) of the candidates.
“Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“For clarity, this publication only applies to the forthcoming bye-elections as they are fresh elections for which political parties conducted primaries and nominated their candidates. For the re-run elections to be held on the same day, the list and personal particulars of candidates have been published before the 2023 General Election.
“The re-run elections are conducted pursuant to the orders of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. They are not fresh elections open to new/disqualified candidates which obviates the need to publish their personal particulars again.”
