INEC Announces Schedule For Supplementary Election In Taraba, New Re-run in Enugu

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced that a supplementary election will be held in Taraba, and a new re-run election will take place in Enugu State on February 14.

This decision was made during the commission’s regular meeting on Tuesday, where various matters were discussed, including the outcome of the recent re-run and by-election held on Saturday.

The by-election was conducted in nine constituencies to fill vacant seats that became available due to the death or resignation of elected members during the 2023 General Election, both at the National and State Houses of Assembly.

Furthermore, 39 constituencies underwent re-run elections as directed by the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. As per Olumekun, the by-election was effectively conducted in all designated constituencies, except for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency.

The final announcement of the election results was delayed due to instances of over-voting in certain polling units, which affected the margin of lead between the candidates who received the highest number of votes.

INEC, however, assured that the specifics regarding the affected polling units will be made available on Wednesday.

“Regarding the re-run election, disruptions occurred at two Polling Units in the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State and across all polling units in the Enugu South State Constituency of Enugu State and Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State.

“This was due to violence, thuggery, and the hijacking of election materials.

“The commission had previously suspended the re-run election in these areas by Section 24(3) the Electoral Act 20 of 22,” INEC stated in a communique released on Tuesday in Abuja by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee of the commission, Sam Olumekun.