INEC: Only 2 suspended NASS elections’ll hold with state polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says only two National Assembly elections earlier suspended by the commission will hold alongside Saturday’s governorship and Houses of Assembly polls.

INEC made this known via a statement issued on Friday by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.

Okoye enjoined Nigerians to disregard any report alluding to conduct of supplementary elections arising from February 25 presidential election and NASS elections alongside the March 18 state polls.

He asserted that the rescheduled National Assembly elections will only hold in Edo and Enugu states.

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“The attention of the 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, March 18. 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,” Okoye noted.

He, however, said there should be no confusion on the two NASS 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 INEC official stated.

The Star