By JOHN ONAH, ABUJA-The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has fixed Saturday 19th June 2021 for the conduct of bye-election to fill the vacant seat in Gwaram Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.
The development followed a communication from the National Assembly to the commission, declaring vacancy in the said constituency.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received a communication from the National Assembly in which the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila declared vacancy for Gwaram Federal Constituency of Jigawa State. This followed the death on 4th March 2021 of the serving member for the Constituency, Hon. Yuguda Hassan Kila”.
“Consequently, the Commission has fixed Saturday 19th June 2021 for the conduct of bye-election to fill the vacant seat for the said Constituency in the House of Representatives”.
In a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye on Friday, the official notification for the election will be published on 17th May 2021.
“Political parties shall conduct their primaries between 18th and 24th May 2021. The Access Code for online submission of nomination forms will be available for collection from 24th May 2021 at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja while the last day for submission of the list of nominated candidates is 28th May 2021 at 6.00pm”, he said.
“Political parties shall submit the names of their Polling Agents for the election to the INEC Electoral Officer for Gwaram Local Government Area on/or before 1st June 2021 and campaigns by political parties shall end on 17th June 2021”.
According to the statement, the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the bye-election has been uploaded on the Commission’s website and other social media platforms.
“The Commission wishes to reiterate that since work on the expansion of voter access to Polling Units in the country is ongoing, the bye-election will hold in the existing Polling Units and Voting Points across the Constituency covering Gwaram Local Government Area of Jigawa State”.
The Commission therefore enjoins all political parties to strictly adhere to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities and avoid rancorous primaries and violence during the campaigns and throughout the electoral process.
“Political parties must pay attention to section 87 of the Electoral Act relating to the nomination processes and submit to the Commission the names and particulars of candidates that scored majority of lawful votes and emerged from valid party primaries”.
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