From Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to voters and stakeholders in the states with pending bye-elections to continue to cooperate with it with a view to delivering credible elections under a safe environment as it fixed Dec.5 for 15 pending
bye-elections.
Mr Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, who made the disclosure in a statement he made available to journalists in Abuja on Friday,said that the decision was taken at the commission’s meeting held on Friday.
He said that INEC arrived at the decision having reviewed the outcome of its quarterly consultations with stakeholders in the electoral process to hold the bye-elections in eleven states of the federation.
The Reporters gathered that the states include Kogi, Bayelsa and Zamfara.
Okoye added that the commission further reviewed the security situation and other challenges regarding the bye-elections holding in 11 states before arriving at the decision.
The Reporters recalls that INEC on Oct. 22, postponed the bye-elections earlier scheduled for Oct. 31,due to security situation and other environmental challenges in the country.
Okoye further disclosed that the commission met again on Nov. 5, and reviewed the situation and noted, among other things, the vandalism of its local government offices and facilities which affected some areas where the bye-elections were scheduled to hold.
“Consequently, the commission decided to consult critical stakeholders in the electoral process before deciding on a definite date for the conduct of the bye-elections.
“The commission consulted with political parties and civil society organisations on Nov. 10, as well as with the media and the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) on Nov. 11.
“Finally, it met with all Resident Electoral Commissioners on Thursday, Nov. 12.
“Based on these consultations, the Commission believes that security in the affected States has improved while the environmental challenges have reasonably abated.
“Consequently, the Commission has decided to hold all the pending bye-elections on Saturday, Dec. 5.”he added.
Okoye acknowledged the support, understanding and cooperation of stakeholders and the general public in considering the scheduling of the bye-elections.
Okoye appealed to voters and stakeholders in the states with pending bye-elections to continue to cooperate with INEC, in its efforts to deliver credible elections under a safe environment.
