The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC has scheduled fresh election in Kogi West senatorial district for November 16.
The election which will be hotly contested by Mr. Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr. Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be held simultaneously with the off-season governorship election slated for the state on that day.
INEC’s chairman in charge of information and voter committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement today in Abuja, said the decision was taken at the commission’s meeting held earlier today.
He said the fresh election was a sequel to the nullification of the Kogi West Senatorial District election conducted on February 23, by the Election Petitions Tribunal and its subsequent affirmation by the Court of Appeal.
It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal had upheld the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal which nullified the election of Melaye following a suit filed by Adeyemi.
The Appeal Court, on October 11, 2019, ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days from the date of judgment with all those who participated in it as eligible candidates.
Okoye appealed to the candidates and political parties to conduct issue-based campaigns.
“We also enjoin stakeholders to eschew violence and avoid acts capable of creating apprehension or a sense of fear before, during and after the elections,” he said.
Okoye also disclosed that following extensive consultations with stakeholders and a review of the security situation with the relevant security agencies, the Commission fixed November 30 for the conduct of bye-election in Sabuwa State Constituency, Katsina State.
He recalled that the Katsina State House of Assembly, vide a letter with Reference Number KTSHA/PER/HON/l24/VOL.l/24, dated September 26, notified INEC of the death of Mustapha Abdullahi, who represented the constituency, and subsequently declared the seat vacant.
He said the Commission would issue the Notice of Election on October 23, while the conduct of party primaries would take place between October 24 and November 6.
Okoye further said that the last day for the submission of personal particulars of candidates (Form CF001), and the list of candidates (Form CFOO2) is November 8.
He added that the last day for the submission of names and addresses of polling agents is November 15, while campaigns end on November 28.
