Former INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu
By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja-
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will present certificates of return to the winners of the August 16 by-elections on Thursday.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday
He said this action aligns with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“The presentation of certificates for Senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at INEC’s headquarters in Abuja,” Olumekun stated in a Tuesday press release.
The recipients include senators-elect from Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts, as well as five House of Representatives-elect from constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo states.
For State House of Assembly members-elect, Olumekun noted, “Certificates will be issued by Resident Electoral Commissioners in our state offices on Friday, August 22, at 11 a.m.”
These constituencies span Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Niger, and Taraba states.
Additionally, INEC has scheduled a re-run election for August 21 in five polling units of Kaura Namoda South State Constituency in Zamfara due to disruptions caused by violence. Olumekun explained, “With a margin of lead at 1,662 and 3,265 collected PVCs in the affected units, a re-run is necessary under Section 24(3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2022 to determine the winner.”
Reflecting on the by-elections and court-ordered re-runs held on August 16 across two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, and nine state constituencies, Olumekun confirmed that declarations and returns have been completed for all but one constituency.
He also highlighted the successful conclusion of re-run elections in Enugu and Kano states, stating, “Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party won in Enugu South 1, while Ya’u Garba Gwarmai of the APC emerged victorious in Ghari/Tsanyawa, Kano.”
