INEC Sets Supplementary Election in Taraba and Re-run Election in Enugu State for February 14

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled a supplementary election in Taraba and a new re-run election in Enugu State to take place on February 14.

This decision was announced by Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja.

Olumekun explained that the commission reached this decision during its regular meeting, where it discussed the outcomes of the Saturday re-run and by-elections.

The by-elections were conducted in nine constituencies to fill vacant seats resulting from the demise or resignation of members elected during the 2023 General Election, both at the National and State Houses of Assembly. Additionally, re-run elections were held in 39 constituencies as directed by the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals.

Olumekun noted that while the by-election was successfully concluded in all designated constituencies, except for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency, the final declaration was postponed due to over voting in some polling units, which impacted the margin of lead between the candidates with the highest number of votes. Details of the affected polling units will be published on Wednesday.

Regarding the re-run election, disruptions occurred at two Polling Units in the Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, and across all polling units in the Enugu South State Constituency of Enugu State, and Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State, due to violence, thuggery, and the hijacking of election materials.

The commission had previously suspended the re-run election in these areas in accordance with Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act 20 of 22.