INEC fixes June 19 for Jigawa, Kaduna bye-elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, 19 June 2021 for the conduct of the bye-elections in Gwaram Federal Constituency, Jigawa State and Sabon Gari state constituency in Kaduna State.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, who said this on Friday in Abuja in separate statements, said the official notifications for the elections would be published on 17 May 2021.

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The developments followed the death of the member representing Gwaram Federal Constituency of Jigawa State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Yuguda Hassan Kila on 4 March 2021, as well as the declaration of the seat of the member representing Sabon Gari state constituency in Kaduna Assembly, Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Shagali, vacant.

According to him, political parties would conduct their primaries between May 18 and 24, 2021, adding that the access code for online submission of nomination forms will be available for collection from May 24, 2021, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja while the last day for submission of the list of nominated candidates is 28 May 2021 at 6.00 pm.

“All 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 the majority of lawful votes and emerged from valid party primaries.

“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 June 1, 2021, and campaigns by political parties shall end on June 17, 2021.

“The detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the bye-election have 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 and Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State,” Okoye said.

He also urged 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.