INEC says Presidential and National Assembly supplementary elections not holding tomorrow

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said the supplementary elections of the Presidential and National Assembly elections will not hold alongside the gubernatorial and house of assembly.

In a statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye on Friday, the date for the elections is yet to be scheduled.

According to the statement, the supplementary elections will take place on a date to be announced by the commission immediately after the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

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INEC urged the people not to be confused with the two National Assembly elections earlier suspended by the commission and rescheduled to hold along with the Governorship and State Assembly elections

The two elections that will be held alongside Saturday’s Gubernatorial election are Enugu East Senatorial District, where the Labour Party conduct a fresh primary election to replace its deceased candidate and Esan Central Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo State following issues with the ballot paper for the election.

The statement read: “The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been drawn to a news report that conveyed the impression that the Commission intends to conduct supplementary elections arising from the Presidential and National Assembly elections together with the Governorship and State Assembly elections that will take place on Saturday 18 March 2023. This ts not correct.

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“The Commission has not scheduled the conduct of supplementary elections arising from the Presidential and National Assembly elections. For clarity, the supplementary elections will take place on a date to be announced by the Commission immediately after the Governorship and State Assembly elections.

“However, this should not be confused with the two National Assembly elections earlier suspended by the Commission and rescheduled to hold along with the Governorship and State Assembly elections. Enugu East Senatorial District, Esan Central Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo State.

“First is the Enugu East Senatorial District election which was countermanded to allow the Labour Party conduct a fresh primary election to replace its deceased candidate inline with the provision of Secuan 34(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The second is the Esan Central Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo State following issues with the bellot paper for the election. These are not supplementary but mam elections that could not be held earlier.

“The public is advised to disregard any report alluding to the conduct of supplementary elections alongside the Governorship and Suc Assembly elections tomorrow Saturday 18th March 2023.”