INEC publishes final list of candidates for by-elections in nine states

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for the by-elections in nine states.

The by-elections are to be conducted due to the death or resignation of members of the national and state houses of assembly.

The polls are scheduled to be held on February 3 in two senatorial districts (Ebonyi south and Yobe east) and four federal constituencies (Shanga/Ngaski/Yauri federal constituency of Kebbi state, Surulere 1 federal constituency of Lagos state, Akoko north-east/Akoko north-west federal constituency of Ondo, and Jalingo/Yorro/Zing federal constituency of Taraba).

By-elections will also be held in three state constituencies (Guma 1 state constituency of Benue, Chibok constituency of Borno state and Chikun constituency of Kaduna state).

In a statement on Wednesday, Sam Olumekun, INEC national commissioner and chairman, information voter education committee, said the list was published in the commission’s state offices and on its website according to the provision of section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinize the personal particulars (Form EC9 and academic credentials) of the candidates,” the statement reads.

“Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“For clarity, this publication only applies to the forthcoming bye-elections as they are fresh elections for which political parties conducted primaries and nominated their candidates.

“For the re-run elections to be held on the same day, the list and personal particulars of candidates have been published before the 2023 General Election.

“The re-run elections are conducted pursuant to the orders of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. They are not fresh elections open to new/disqualified candidates which obviates the need to publish their personal particulars again.”