INEC to conduct four bye-elections for NASS – Chairman

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the commission will conduct four bye-elections into National Assembly seats recently declared vacant by lawmakers nominated for ministers by President Bola Tinubu.

Mahmood disclosed this yesterday at the 2023 Post Election Review meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Lagos.

The INEC boss explained that the four bye-elections would be conducted to fill the vacant seats by  two Senators and two members of the House of Representatives,  nominated for  ministerial posts  from their states.

He said in all, INEC now has eight bye-elections, adding that the elections would also provide it the opportunity to keep test running some of the suggestions and recommendations made at the post-election meeting with stakeholders.

“This is also another opportunity for us to conduct  credible elections because so far,  we have four vacancies declared in the forthcoming bye-elections at state levels.

“These are Surulere I Constituency in Lagos State, Jalingo Yaransi Constituency in Taraba , Chibok State Constituency in Borno  and Chifun State Constituency in Kaduna State.

“Also, there are  four national assembly seats recently declared vacant arising from the screening of the ministerial nominees that is ongoing at the national assembly.

“This is due to the two senators and two members of the house of representatives who have been nominated as ministers by the president.

Yakubu explained that the commission would implement the recommendations and suggestions made at the meeting with stakeholders to plan better for the Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi elections, billed for  Nov. 11.

The chairman said INEC had earlier promised Nigerians that the commission would embark on  review of the election within a month, which started on July 1 with the meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners.