The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate in Wudil/Garko Constituency of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Kamilu Ado Isa, died on Monday, barely four days to the election.
Isa, a former Assistant Comptroller General of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), died after a brief illness.
The presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections have scheduled for Saturday.
In a condolence message to his family, Presidential candidate of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, described his demise as a huge vacuum that cannot be replaced.
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He said the candidate dedicated his time, wealth and energy to the success of the party and his immediate community, praying for God Almighty to forgive his shortcomings.
“I am saddened by the loss of Hon. Kamilu Ado Isah, the NNPP House of Representatives Candidate for Wudil/Garko constituency.
“May the Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal peace. My condolence to his family, friends and the NNPP Kano Chapter,” he said.
The deceased has been buried according to Islamic rites.
What Electoral Act Says
According to section 34 of the 2022 Electoral Act (1): “If after the time for the delivery of nomination paper and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election within 14 days.”
This sub-section 1 implies that should a nominated candidate whose name has been submitted to INEC dies before the date of the election, INEC will have to suspend the poll and fix a new date for a fresh election within 14 days of the death of the candidate.
That is if the days to the election are fast approaching and a nominated candidate dies, other elections will go on except that of the deceased candidate (irrespective of the position they are vying for) and within the next 14 days, another primary election (or selection) will be done by the party to nominate another candidate. INEC will then announce a new date for such an election (only).
So with Isa’s death Muhammad Ali Wudil of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ahmed Rufai Idris of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the deceased’s major opponents in the election, would await a new date from INEC.
Isa’s death isn’t the first one in the build up to the 2023 general election.
In Kwara State, a serving state lawmaker, representing the Ilorin central constituency, Olawoyin Mogaji died in January this year.
Until his death, he was the candidate of the APC for the Ilorin Central Constituency seat in the state’s assembly.
However, his younger brother, Oba Mogaji, emerged as a replacement during a bye election conducted by the party.
Also, Uche Ikonne who was the Abia PDP Guber Candidate, died recently.
Okey Ahaiwe, the former chief of staff to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, later emerged winner of the rerun governorship primary of the PDP.
He polled a total number of 469 votes to defeat Ude Oko-Chukwu, the deputy governor of the state; and Lucky Igbokwe, who scored 12 votes each.
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