The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it will conduct rerun and bye-elections across the country in February 2024, to fill existing vacancies in the state and federal legislatures.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this at a meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja on Monday ahead of the elections.
Rerun elections only involve the parties and candidates that participated in the general elections unless a party wishes to replace a deceased candidate. However, bye-elections are fresh elections.
Yakubu noted that at the end of litigation, the courts ordered the commission to conduct rerun elections in 34 federal and state constituencies, made up of one in the Senate, 11 federal constituencies, and 22 state constituencies.
He stated that the reruns would hold alongside bye-elections, adding that political parties must conduct fresh primaries within the limited period of time provided by law.
He said, “The purpose of this meeting is to brief party leaders on the commission’s preparation for the forthcoming elections to be held early in the new year. The elections are in two categories.
“First, as the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals set up in the aftermath of the 2023 general elections gradually wind up their proceedings, the commission is required to conduct rerun elections in some constituencies by court order.
“Secondly, the commission is also required to conduct bye-elections to fill vacancies arising from the death or resignation of members of the national and state Houses of Assembly.
The commission intends to combine and conduct the two categories of elections on the same day, the details of which will be discussed at this meeting.
“Consequently, political parties must conduct fresh primaries within the limited period of time provided by law.”