INEC suspends Bye-elections in Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Kano constituencies
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the ongoing rerun polls in particular seats in Enugu, Kano, and Akwa Ibom states due to disturbances, anomalies, and the kidnapping of election personnel.
The impacted areas include Enugu South 1 State Constituency in Enugu State, Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, and Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency in Kano State.
On Saturday, the electoral authority issued a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
The judgment came after INEC had stated that it was monitoring incidences of thuggery and hijacking of voting materials in the states.
Elections were suspended in all eight Polling Units in Enugu South 1 Constituency because the original results sheets were not accessible for voters to inspect before the voting began.
Similarly, in Akwa Ibom State, INEC reported that polls were halted in two polling units (Village Hall, EdemUrua 003 in Ini LGA and Village Hall Mbiabong Ikot Udo 003 in Ikono LGA) after hoodlums stole all election materials.
INEC stated that polls in the Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency in Kano State had been suspended due to thugs’ invasion, vandalism, and disruption of all ten polling units in Kunchi LGA.
The electoral umpire stated that their ruling complies with Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act of 2022.
It indicated that more measures for the impacted constituencies would be disclosed following the Commission’s meeting on Monday.
INEC has asked security agencies to investigate the occurrences, and the Commission promises to thoroughly probe any breaches involving its workers.
According to Channels Television, INEC is conducting bye and re-run elections in 80 Local Government Areas (LGAs) throughout 26 states of the Federation.
The elections are being held to fill vacancies in at least three senatorial districts, 17 federal and 28 state constituencies spread across 80 local government areas, 575 registration areas/wards, and 8,934 polling units, with 4,904,627 registered voters, of which 4,613,291 PVCs have been collected.
(Channels TV)