The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it would conduct rerun and by-elections elections in the first week of February, 2024.
It, however, said the Commission would meet to review preparations and announce a definite date, including the detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the elections.
The electoral body said out of the 34 re-run elections, it is only in three cases that the Commission was ordered to conduct elections in the entire constituencies.
It added in the other 31 constituencies, elections are to be held in a few polling units.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at an extraordinary consultative meeting with political parties.
He said the purpose of this meeting was to brief party leaders on the Commission’s preparation for the forthcoming elections to be held early in the new year, adding that the elections are in two categories.
The chairman stressed that as the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals set up in the aftermath of the 2023 general election gradually wind up their proceedings, the Commission is required to conduct re-run elections in some constituencies by court order.
Mahmood noted that the Commission was also required to conduct by-elections to fill vacancies arising from the death or resignation of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.
He said that the Commission intends to combine and conduct the two categories of elections on the same day, saying the details of which would be discussed at this meeting.
Mahmood stated: “As you are aware, re-run elections only involve the parties and candidates that participated in the general election unless a party wishes to replace a deceased candidate. However, by-elections are fresh elections. Consequently, political parties must conduct fresh primaries within the limited period of time provided by law.
“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.
“However, the 34 constituencies constitute 2.8 percent of the 1,191 petitions filed by litigants. Significantly, out of the 34 re-run elections, it is only in three cases that the Commission was ordered to conduct elections in the entire constituencies. In the other 31 constituencies, elections are to be held in a few polling units.”
The chairman said at the end of all the litigations, including the Governorship elections pending on appeal at the Supreme Court, the Commission would present a comprehensive analysis of the petitions, including cases where the Commission was ordered to issue Certificates of Return to other candidates and the reasons for the decisions by the Courts as part of the lessons learned from the 2023 general election for the consequential reforms to improve the conduct of future elections.
He recalled that the commission last week expressed commitment to conduct elections to fill vacancies in the National and State Assembly constituencies.
Mahmood added: “The Commission is looking at the first week of February 2024 i.e. in just a little over one month to conduct both the re-run and bye-elections.
“At the end of this consultative meeting, the Commission will meet to review preparations and announce a definite date, including the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the elections.”
The chairman assured that full delimitation details, including locations, number of Polling Units, registered voters and Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) collected in each constituency will be uploaded to our website for public information.”