Certificate

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it will issue certificates of return to winners of Aug.16 by-elections on Thursday.

Mr Sam Olumeku, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said that the decision was in line with the provision of Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

Olumekun said that the the presentation of the certificates for Senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect will take place at the INEC headquarters in Abuja at 3:00 p.m.

The senators-elects to receive the certificates were those of Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts and five members of House of Representatives-elect, from Ovie North-East and Ovie South-West Federal Constituency of Edo, Babura/Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa.

Others are Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun and Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo.

“For State Houses of Assembly, the Certificates of Return will be presented to members-elect by the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in our state offices on Friday Aug. 22 at 11am.

“The constituencies are Ganye State Constituency of Adamawa, Onitsha North 1 State Constituency of Anambra, Basawa and Zaria/Kewaye State Constituencies of Kaduna State and Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa State constituencies of Kano State,

Others are ;Okura State Constituency of Kogi, Munya State Constituency of Niger and Karim Lamido 1 State Constituency of Taraba,” he said.

Olumekun, also disclosed that INEC has fixed Aug. 21 for the conclusion of the by-election in five polling units of Kaura Namoda South State Constituency of Zamfara.

The polling units according to him are; Shiyar Magaji/Kofar Hamza, Tukasu/Sabuwar Kasuwa, Kofar Fada/ Shiyar Fada, Alko/Shiyar Tudu, and SH/Nufawa/Kofar M. D. Nuhu

He recalled that 16 by-elections and two court-ordered re-run elections were held across the country on Aug. 16.

He noted that the by-elections were held in two Senatorial Districts, five Federal Constituencies and nine State Assembly Constituencies, with declaration and return already made in all except one State Assembly Constituencies.

“In spite of the prevailing security situation, election was held in Kaura Namoda South State Constituency of Zamfara.

“However, the Returning Officer reported that he was unable to make a declaration because of violence emergency in five Polling Units across two Registration Areas/Wards with a total of 3,572 registered voters out of which 3,265 Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) were collected by voters.

“The margin of lead was 1,662. Therefore, based on Section 24(3) and (4) of the Electoral Act 2022, election must be held in the affected polling units to determine a winner,” he said.

Olumekun said that consequently, the commission has fixed Thursday Aug. 21 for re-run election in the five polling units.

He also recalled that two re-run elections by order of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals were held in Enugu and Kano States.

“After previous disruptions of the elections in the two states by violence and thuggery, the elections have now been concluded.

“Declaration and return were made by the Returning Officers.

“For the Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Enugu State, Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party (LP) was declared winner while Ya’u Garba Gwarmai of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election in Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu