Bye-elections: INEC to meet stakeholders, says LG offices vandalised

The Independent National Electoral Commission said it would consult with stakeholders in the electoral process before deciding on a definite date for the conduct of the suspended bye-elections.

The commission also announced that it would consult with political parties and civil society organisations on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, the media and Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security on Wednesday, November 11, 2020.

Thereafter, INEC would meet again with the Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, November 12, 2020 to decide on a date for the conduct of the bye-elections.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman (Information and Voter Education Committee), said this in a statement issued on Thursday night entitled: ‘Update on outstanding bye-elections.’

Following the #EndSARS nationwide protests, INEC had announced the indefinite postponement of the bye-elections in the six Senatorial Districts and nine State Constituencies.

The commission then said it would continue to monitor the situation in all the states and constituencies, consult with relevant stakeholders and meet again in two weeks to review the situation and decide on a feasible date for the elections.

The pending bye-elections are Bayelsa Central Senatorial District; Bayelsa West Senatorial District; Nganzai and Bayo Constituencies in Borno State; Cross River North Senatorial District; Obudu Constituency in Cross River.

Others are Imo North Senatorial District; Lagos East Senatorial District; Kosofe II Constituency in Lagos State; Plateau South Senatorial District; Bakura Constituency in Zamfara; and Ibaji Constituency in Kogi.

The bye-elections in the federal and state legislative houses were due to the resignation or death of members in eight states of the federation.

But Okoye in the statement appealed to all stakeholders to continue to cooperate with INEC in its efforts to conduct credible elections under a safe and conducive environment.

He said, “The public will recall that the Commission met on October 22 2020 with Resident Electoral Commissioners to deliberate on the 15 outstanding bye-elections in 11 states of the federation earlier scheduled for October 31 2020.

“Due to the security situation in the country at the time, the commission decided to suspend the bye-elections and meet in two weeks to review its decision.

“The commission met on Thursday November 5 2020 to further review the situation and decided that it suffered extensive damage to and vandalization of its local government offices and facilities, including the areas where the bye-elections are scheduled to hold.

“It is important to consult all the critical stakeholders in the electoral process before deciding on a definite date for the conduct of the bye-elections

“Consequently, the commission will consult with political parties and civil society organisations on Tuesday November 10 2020 and then with the media and Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security on Wednesday, November 11 2020.

“The commission will thereafter meet again with the Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday November 12 2020 to decide on a date for the conduct of the bye-elections.

“We appeal to all stakeholders to continue to cooperate with the commission in its efforts to conduct credible elections under a safe and conducive environment.”