INEC reveals date for elections rerun in Taraba, Enugu, and Kano States

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will conduct supplementary and rerun elections in Taraba and Enugu states on February 14, 2024.

Additionally, the suspended rerun election in Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency, Kano State, will be held at a later date. These updates were provided in a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.

On February 3, 2024, by-elections were held in nine constituencies to fill vacant seats resulting from the death or resignation of elected members during the 2023 general elections at both the National and State Houses of Assembly. Concurrently, rerun elections took place in 39 constituencies as ordered by courts.

However, INEC reported that the bye-elections concluded successfully in all designated constituencies except for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency. In this constituency, the final declaration was postponed due to overvoting in certain polling units, which affected the margin of lead between the candidates with the highest number of votes. INEC will publish details of these polling units.

Regarding the rerun elections, disruptions occurred at two polling units in the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, all polling units in the Enugu South State Constituency of Enugu State, and Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State. These disruptions were primarily due to violence, thuggery, and the hijacking of election materials.

INEC had previously suspended the rerun elections in these areas in line with Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act 2022. However, based on additional reports from INEC 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 significantly impact the election’s outcome.

As a result, INEC has decided to conduct a supplementary election in Taraba State and a new rerun election in Enugu State, both scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2024. The election in Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency, Kano State, will be held at a later date after further discussions with security agencies and stakeholders due to security concerns.

INEC encourages all eligible voters and stakeholders in the impacted polling units in Taraba and Enugu States to participate peacefully in the upcoming elections and support their preferred candidates.