INEC holds legislative rerun and by-election to replace Gbajabiamila, Umahi and others

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will hold nine by-elections and 35 repeat elections in 26 states on Saturday.

In the by-elections, a total of 74 candidates are competing for nine limited seats in the state and national assemblies.

While 13 candidates are competing for the two seats in the Senate, another 39 aspire to fill the four vacant seats in the House of Representatives.

Additionally, 22 candidates are vying for seats in the Borno, Kaduna and Benue Houses of Assembly.

List of candidates for the interim elections, State House of Assembly, Chikun I, Kaduna State

The by-elections were the result of the resignation or death of elected legislators and subsequent vacancies declared by the speakers of the National Assembly and the state houses of assembly.

Meanwhile, electoral courts ordered the rerun of 35 elections in parts of 17 states.

The by-election will produce senators representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District and Yobe East Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

The Senate seats were vacated by David Umahi and Ibrahim Gaidam, who resigned from the Senate following their inauguration as Ministers of Public Works and Police Affairs, respectively, on August 21, 2023 by President Bola Tinubu.

List of candidates for the interim elections, House of Representatives, Surulere I, Lagos State

Messrs. Umahi and Gaidam are former governors of Ebonyi and Yobe states.

The elections will also produce members representing the following electoral districts in the House of Representatives; Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency in Ondo State; Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency, Taraba State; Surulere Federal Constituency 1, Lagos State; and Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency, Kebbi State.

The Surulere 1 Federal Constituency seat of Lagos State fell vacant when its former occupant, Femi Gbajabiamila, resigned to take over as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.

Gbajabiamila was president of the Ninth House of Representatives, but was re-elected to the Tenth House before his appointment.

Akoko North West/North East Federal Constituency in Ondo State has fallen vacant in the lower house following the appointment of Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as Minister of Interior.

Similarly, the Kebbi State Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency seat fell vacant following the departure of Tanko Sununu who took over as Minister of State for Education.

Both ministers are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

List of candidates for the interim elections, Senatorial District, Ebonyi South, Ebonyi State

Ismaila Galadanci, who won the election to represent Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency, Taraba State, on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, died in April 2023, two months before the inauguration of the 10th Assembly National.

State Assemblies

There are also vacancies in Chibok Constituency, Borno State House of Assembly; Chikun Constituency 1, Kaduna State House of Assembly; and Guma Constituency (Guma I), Benue State House of Assembly.

“In all elections, we will fill vacancies in three senatorial districts, 17 federal and 28 state electoral districts spread across 80 local government areas, 575 registration areas/districts and 8,934 electoral units involving 4,904,627 registered voters, of which which 4,613,291 permanent voter cards. (PVC) have been collected,” INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said.

List of candidates for by-election, House of Representatives, Jalingo, Yorro, Zing, Taraba State

Security

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered to restrict the movement of vehicles in the constituencies where the elections will be held between 12:00 and 18:00.

Other security agencies have deployed their personnel to maintain law and order during the process.

List of candidates for the interim election, State House of Representatives, Guma (Guma I), Benue State List of candidates for the interim election, House of Representatives, Ngaski, Shanga, Yauri, Kebbi State List of candidates for the interim election provisionals, House of Representatives, Akoko North East/Akoko North West, Ondo State List of candidates for the provisional elections, State House of Assembly, Chibok, Borno State List of candidates for the provisional elections, Senatorial District, Yobe East, State by Yobe