Independent National Electoral Commission has debunked a report stating that it would conduct supplementary elections alongside with the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday.
According to a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye on Friday, the Commission reiterated that date for supplementary elections would be fixed.
Okoye, however cleared the air that the two National Assembly elections in Enugu and Edo earlier suspended by the Commission and rescheduled would hold along with the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
The statement read, “The attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission 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 is not correct.
“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. 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 in line with the provision of Section 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 ballot paper for the election. These are not supplementary but main 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 State Assembly elections tomorrow Saturday 18th March 2023.”