The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
has said that some unscrupulous individuals are bent on disrupting
some of the bye-elections conducted across eleven states of the
country on Saturday, 5th December 2020.
In a communique on Sunday, INEC’s National Commissioner and
Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus
Okoye, said although the elections went generally well, some
unscrupulous persons are still bent on disrupting the
processes.
According to Mr Okoye, a number of the Commission’s staff were
assaulted during the bye-elections.
“In some areas, the staff of the Commission were assaulted and
materials destroyed, while in others there was resistance to the
use of the Smart Card Readers.
“In yet other areas, Commission staff were prevented from
deploying altogether. In fact, in one area in Lagos State, some
people demanded for money from INEC staff before they would be
allowed to deploy.
“These acts continue to reflect poorly on our country and denude
the spirited efforts of the Commission to improve the electoral
process under very difficult circumstances,” Okoye’s communique
partly read.
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Okoye revealed that one consequence of the lingering problem of
election disruption manifested in the declaration of the
bye-election for Bakura State Constituency in Zamfara State
inconclusive.
“The Returning Officer declared the result inconclusive in line
with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the Commission’s
Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections.
“The election for Bakura State Constituency became inconclusive
because the 2,181-vote margin between the two leading candidates –
those of the PDP (18,645 votes) and APC (16,464) – is less than the
total number of registered voters in 14 Polling Units where
elections were cancelled or not held, which stands at 11,429.
“Consequently, by the “margin of lead principle”, the election
could not be declared and no winner was returned.
“Voting in the 14 affected Polling Units was marred by
over-voting, abduction of staff of the Commission, violence,
assault occasioning grievous hurt against INEC officials, burning
of INEC materials and snatching and carting away of sensitive
electoral materials, resistance to the use of smart cards readers
and obstruction of the electoral process,” Okoye revealed.
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The Commissioner further stated that the Commission met on
Sunday, 6th December 2020 and decided to remobilize and conclude
the elections on Wednesday, 9th December 2020.
He stressed that in order to ensure that the Supplementary
Election is properly secured, the Commission is considering
clustering the affected Polling Units to prevent the disruptions
experienced on 5th December 2020.
According to the INEC spokesman, the details for the conclusion
of the bye-election in Bakura will be worked out by the INEC State
Office in Gusau after consultation with stakeholders.
Mr Okoye said the Commission has commiserated with staff who
were assaulted and has also extended its deep condolences to the
families of the six policemen who lost their lives when the boat in
which they were escorting election staff and materials capsized in
Bayelsa State.
The bye-elections on Saturday involved nine State House of
Assembly seats and six Senatorial seats.
The results of all the House of Assembly seats have been
declared, except for Bakura State Constituency in Zamfara
State.
Also, the results of four Senatorial seats have been
successfully declared and INEC hopes that the results of the other
Senatorial seats would be declared soon.
The Commission through its spokesman assured that as has become
part of its practice, the results of the elections will be
available on the INEC website during the week.
The Commission warns all those who have no business with the
conduct of the Supplementary Election to keep away from the 14
Polling Units as only election staff, security agencies, voters,
accredited observers and media, as well as polling agents are
entitled to be at the locations. The Commission is determined to
conclude the election and will not condone further attacks on its
staff and destruction of materials. We urge all the stakeholders to
cooperate with the Commission for the successful conclusion of the
Bakura State Constituency bye-election.