The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says that contrary to a news report making the rounds, it does not intend 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.INEC emphasises that the said news report is incorrect’.
INEC emphsises for the purpose or clarity, that the supplementary elections will take place on a date to be announced by the Commission, immediately after the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
It however states that this should not be confused with the two National Assembly elections earlier suspended by the Commission and rescheduled to hold along with the Governorshp and State Assembly elections.
Explaining further, Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman,
Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, said that, “First is the Enugu East Senatorial Distric Election which was countermanded to allow the Labour Party conduct a fresh primary election to replace its deceased candidate, in line with the provisions of section 34(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Okoye added, “The second is the Esan Central/Esan West Igueben/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo State, following issues with the ballot papers for the election. These are not supplementary but main elections that could not be held earlier.”
Okoye said the public is advised to “disregard any report alluding to the conduct of supplementary elections alongside the Governorship and State Assembly elections tomorrow, Saturday 18 March 2023.”
