INEC Approves Timetable for Bye-Elections and Re-Run Elections

In a statement signed by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Friday, December 22, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the timetable and schedule of activities for conducting bye-elections. This results from the vacancies declared by the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Speakers of State Houses of Assembly across two senatorial districts, four federal constituencies, and three state constituencies spanning nine states of the federation.

The statement also announced that the Commission is conducting re-run elections stemming from the 2023 General Election, as directed by various Election Petition Appeal Tribunals, of which 35 constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections. 

Both categories of elections are scheduled to take place simultaneously in all affected constituencies on Saturday, February 3, 2024, and the timetable for the elections, along with detailed delimitation data, has been uploaded to the INEC website and social media platforms as a guide to political parties and candidates, and for public information. 

Concluding the press release, INEC urged all parties and candidates to strictly adhere to the specified timelines for the seamless conduct of these elections.

But, while all parties and candidates might adhere to INEC’s urge, the big question remains: would INEC adhere to the simple policy of a free, fair, and credible election, one void of behind-the-scene pre-written and manipulated results, one where each vote counts and the result speaks the heart of the people? 

If not, another question pleads: what use is this election to the people, or is it just another set-up for formality’s sake as elections over the years have been?

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Joy Chukwu

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