The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set February 14, 2024, as the date for supplementary and rerun elections in Taraba and Enugu states respectively.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a statement, the Nation’s Electoral body announced that the suspended re-run election in Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency, Kano State, will be rescheduled at a later date.
The by-elections held on February 3, 2024, aimed to fill vacant seats in nine constituencies due to the death or resignation of elected members in the 2023 general elections. Additionally, 39 constituencies underwent rerun elections as mandated by court orders.
While most by-elections concluded successfully, the final declaration for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency was postponed due to overvoting in certain polling units.
The INEC’s statement reads: “Bye-elections were concluded successfully across all designated constituencies, with the exception of the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency.
“Here, the final declaration was postponed due to overvoting in certain polling units, impacting the margin of lead between the candidates with the highest number of votes. Details of these polling units will be published tomorrow.”
Disruptions, including violence and hijacking of election materials, occurred at two polling units in the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, as well as across all polling units in the Enugu South State Constituency of Enugu State and the Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State during the rerun elections.
Consequently, the commission suspended the rerun elections in specific locations under Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
However, according to the statement, “Following additional reports from our officials in the affected states, the commission supports the Returning Officer’s decision to announce results in the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, as the number of registered voters in the two polling units did not affect the outcome of the election.
“The commission has resolved to conduct a supplementary election in Taraba State and a new re-run election in Enugu State, both scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
“Due to security concerns, the election in Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency will be held at a later date, after further discussions with security agencies and stakeholders.”
The commission urges all eligible voters and stakeholders in the affected polling units in Taraba and Enugu States to participate peacefully in the upcoming elections and support their preferred candidates.
