Abuja: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will issue certificates of return to the winners of the August 16 by-elections on Thursday. This announcement was made by Mr. Sam Olumeku, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement released on Tuesday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the decision aligns with the provision of Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022. Olumeku stated that the presentation of the certificates for Senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect will occur at the INEC headquarters in Abuja at 3:00 p.m. The Senators-elect to receive the certificates include those from Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, along with five members of the House of Representatives-elect from various constituencies across the country.
The constituencies for the members of the House of Representatives-elect include Ovie North-East and Ovie South-West Federal Constituency of Edo, Babura/Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa, Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun, and Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo.
For the State Houses of Assembly, certificates will be presented by the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in the respective state offices on Friday, August 22, at 11:00 a.m. The constituencies involved include Ganye State Constituency of Adamawa, Onitsha North 1 State Constituency of Anambra, Basawa and Zaria/Kewaye State Constituencies of Kaduna State, Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa State constituencies of Kano State, Okura State Constituency of Kogi, Munya State Constituency of Niger, and Karim Lamido 1 State Constituency of Taraba.
Olumeku also announced that INEC has scheduled August 21 for the conclusion of the by-election in five polling units of the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency of Zamfara. The polling units include Shiyar Magaji/Kofar Hamza, Tukasu/Sabuwar Kasuwa, Kofar Fada/Shiyar Fada, Alko/Shiyar Tudu, and SH/Nufawa/Kofar M. D. Nuhu.
He recalled that 16 by-elections and two court-ordered re-run elections took place across the country on August 16. The by-elections were conducted in two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies, and nine State Assembly Constituencies, with declarations and returns made in all except one State Assembly Constituency.
Despite security challenges, elections were held in the Kaura Namoda South State Constituency of Zamfara. However, the Returning Officer was unable to make a declaration due to violence in five polling units, which affected 3,572 registered voters. With a margin of lead of 1,662, elections must be conducted in the affected units as per the Electoral Act 2022.
Additionally, Olumeku noted that two re-run elections ordered by the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals were held in Enugu and Kano States. Following previous disruptions, these elections have been concluded, with declarations made by the Returning Officers. Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party (LP) won in the Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Enugu State, while Ya’u Garba Gwarmai of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner in the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State.