INEC Encourages Nigerians to Examine List of Candidates for February Bye-Elections.

INEC is urging Nigerians to carefully review the personal details of candidates participating in the legislative bye-elections across nine states on 3rd February. The information is available on the INEC website, and citizens are encouraged to take necessary action in case of any identified falsehood.

INEC has announced that the timetable, schedule of activities, personal particulars, and final list of candidates for the upcoming bye-elections are now available in INEC state offices and the affected constituencies, as stipulated by Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The statement issued by INEC’s National Commissioner, Sam Olumekun, encourages Nigerians to scrutinize the candidates’ personal details, including Form EC9 and academic credentials, which are also accessible on INEC’s website and social media platforms. As per Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022, any aspirant with reasonable grounds to believe a candidate provided false information during party primaries can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court.

The bye-elections are scheduled for Saturday, 3rd February 2024, across nine states, covering two Senatorial Districts, four Federal Constituencies, and three State Constituencies. The statement emphasizes that this publication applies specifically to the upcoming bye-elections, distinguishing them from re-run elections scheduled for the same day, which involve candidates nominated before the 2023 General Election and do not necessitate a re-publication of their personal particulars.

timetable and schedule of activities, the personal particulars and the final list of candidates for the bye-elections have been published in INEC state offices and the affected constituencies according to the provision of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“The list of candidates is also published on our website and social media platforms.

“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinize the personal particulars (Form EC9 and academic credentials) of the candidates. Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022,” INEC in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Commissioner, Sam Olumekun.

“These elections will be held on Saturday 3rd February 2024 across nine States of the Federation covering two Senatorial Districts (Ebonyi South and Yobe East); four Federal Constituencies (Shanga/Ngaski/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State and Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State); and three State Constituencies (Guma I State Constituency of Benue State, Chibok State Constituency of Borno State and Chikun State Constituency of Kaduna State),” the statement partly read.

“For clarity, this publication only applies to the forthcoming bye-elections as they are fresh elections for which political parties conducted primaries and nominated their candidates.

“For the re-run elections to be held on the same day, the list and personal particulars of candidates have been published before the 2023 General Election. The re-run elections are conducted pursuant to the orders of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. They are not fresh elections open to new/disqualified candidates which obviates the need to publish their personal particulars again.”