The Independent National
Electoral Commission, INEC, has provided update on Supplementary election
taking place in 18 states on Saturday.
Festus Okoye, INEC’s National
Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, gave the update at a news
conference on Thursday in Abuja.
Okoye said that the election
scheduled for Saturday, March 23, would take place in 18 states.
Okoye, however, said election
would not hold in Bauchi due to litigation initiated by the All Progressives
Congress (APC) and its candidate, Muhammed Abubakar, on the state governorship
election, on the collation of results in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area
(LGA) of the state.
He explained that while the
commission has complied due to its policy to obey all court orders, in defence
of the rule of law, it has also taken urgent steps to vacate the order and
dismiss the action.
“It should, however, be noted
that the litigation and consequential order only affect the collation of
results for the governorship election in Tafawa Balewa LGA.
“Consequently, the supplementary
election will proceed as scheduled on Saturday, March 23, in the other 15 LGAs
of Bauchi State as well as the Kirfi State Constituency Supplementary election
in Kirfi LGA.”
On what the commission would do
if the court stoppage on Bauchi election continues, Okoye said that INEC has
the result but it would continue to obey court order, even while the process
must be concluded before April 29.
“The truth of the matter is that
this process has a constitutional window.
“We must complete the processes
related to this governorship election and this whole election before the April
29, 2019.
“Anything outside that will fall
out of the constitution order and will become a Constitutional crisis. So, the
people of Bauchi must know who their governor is on or before April 29,” he
said.
He added, “Some of you are
already aware that the commission has conducted election in 29 states and
returns have been made in 22 of those states.
“While the election was suspended
in Rivers, it was declared inconclusive in six states; Bauchi, Adamawa, Benue,
Plateau, Sokoto and Kano,’’ he said.
“Similarly, the Adamawa State
High court issued an injunction restraining the commission from proceeding with
the supplementary election following the application by the Movement for the
Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD), a registered political party which
did not take part in the main election.
“While the commission has also
complied with the order, it has equally taken steps to vacate it and dismiss
the action.
“Notwithstanding the legal action
over the Supplementary Governorship election, elections will hold in
Nassarawo/Binyeri State Constituency in Mayo –Belwa LGA.
“This is where the election has
to be countermanded following the death of a candidate before the poll, as well
as the supplementary State Constituency election and Uba/Gaya State
Constituency in Hong LGA.”
The national commissioner, while
appealing to stakeholders support, urged all registered voters in the affected
areas where election would be conducted, to come out and cast their vote.
“Arising from the meeting held on
the March 19, between INEC and security agencies, the later has given assurance
of adequate security, professional conduct and unimpeded access to all levels
of the election.
“INEC situation room will be
activated on Saturday, March 23.
He added that all observers and
the media accredited for 2019 general elections were free to observe the
elections.
Okoye also disclosed that
Certificates of Return to governors-elect would be presented by supervising
National Commissioners of the respective states to be assisted by state
Resident Electoral Commissioners between Wednesday March 27 and March 29.
“The precise date for the
presentation in each state shall be made known by the respective resident
electoral commissioner after consultation with their supervising national
commissioners.
“For the State Houses of
Assembly, the date of presentation of Certificates of Return to the respective
winners will be announced in due course.’’
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