INEC has said it is considering conducting bye elections and rerun elections across the country in the first week of February, 2024 to fill existing vacancies in both the state and National Assemblies.
The commission, however, said that only candidates and parties that participated in the last general elections will be allowed to participate in the rerun elections, while parties are allowed to conduct party primaries to present candidates for the bye elections.
The chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who disclosed this at a meeting with leaders of political parties to prepare for the elections said the commission has decided to conduct both elections on the same day.
Prof. Yakubu said at the end of litigation, the commission has been ordered by the courts to conduct rerun elections in 34 federal and state constituencies made up of one in the Senate, 11 Federal Constituencies and 22 state constituencies.
In addition, he said the commission will conduct bye elections to fill vacancies created as a result of resignation or death of members.
He said that an authentic date for the election and a comprehensive time table will be released at the end of the meeting with party leaders.
According to him, the 34 seats scheduled for rerun elections constitute only 2.8 percent of the total number it litigation s filed as a result of the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
In addition, he said the commission will conduct bye elections to fill vacancies created as a result of resignation or death of members.
He said that an authentic date for the election and a comprehensive time table will be released at the end of the meeting with party leaders.
