INEC fixes date for Melaye, Adeyemi rerun

The fresh Kogi West Senatorial District election involving Senator Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party and Senator Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress is to hold on November 16, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission
INEC, in a statement signed Festus Okoye, Chairman of its Information and Voter Committee, said the senatorial election would hold simultaneously with the Kogi State governorship election.
Okoye, also an INEC National Commissioner, in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, said another by-election for Sabuwa State Constituency in Katsina State had been slated for November 30.
“The decision was taken at the commission’s meeting held on Monday,” the statement said.
He said the fresh election was sequel to the nullification of the Kogi West Senatorial District election conducted on February 23, 2019 by the Elections Petitions Tribunal and its subsequent affirmation by the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal had upheld the ruling of the Elections Petitions Tribunal, which nullified the election of Melaye following a suit filed by Adeyemi.
The Appeal Court on October 11, 2019 ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days from the date of judgment with all those who participated in it as eligible candidates.
Okoye appealed to the candidates and political parties to conduct issue-based campaigns.
“We also enjoin stakeholders to eschew violence and avoid acts capable of creating apprehension or a sense of fear before, during and after the elections,” he said.
Okoye also disclosed that following extensive consultations with stakeholders and a review of the security situation with the relevant security agencies, the Commission fixed November 30 for the conduct of bye-election in Sabuwa State Constituency, Katsina State.
He recalled that the Katsina State House of Assembly, vide a letter with Reference Number KTSHA/PER/HON/l24/VOL.l/24, dated September 26, notified INEC of the death of Mustapha Abdullahi, who represented the constituency, and subsequently declared the seat vacant.
He said the Commission would issue the Notice of Election on October 23, while the conduct of party primaries would take place between October 24 and November 6.
According to Okoye, the last day for the submission of personal particulars of candidates (form CF001), and the list of candidates (Form CFOO2) is November 8.
“The last day for the submission of names and addresses of polling agents is Nov. 15, while campaigns will end on Nov. 28,” he said.