The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged 18 political parties to conduct new primaries in preparation for upcoming rerun and bye-elections across 34 constituencies in Nigeria early next year.
During a consultative meeting in Abuja on Monday, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu announced the necessity for fresh primaries.
The rerun elections were mandated by election tribunals in one senatorial district, 11 federal constituencies, and 22 state assembly constituencies post the 2023 general election. Additionally, bye-elections are required due to lawmaker deaths and resignations.
The commission aims to consolidate and hold both rerun and bye-elections simultaneously, tentatively scheduled for the first week of February 2024.
Yakubu emphasized that while rerun elections involve previous candidates, bye-elections necessitate parties to conduct fresh primaries within the limited time provided by law.
Yakubu revealed, “So far, the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals have ordered the Commission to conduct re-run elections in 34 constituencies made up of one Senatorial District, 11 Federal Constituencies, and 22 State Assembly constituencies.”
He assured a comprehensive analysis of petitions, including reasons for court decisions, will be presented post-litigations, contributing to future electoral reforms.
The INEC Chairman assured stakeholders that detailed information, including the number of polling units, registered voters, and collected PVCs, will be uploaded to the INEC website ahead of the polls.
