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Tag: by-election

  • Wike raises alarm as by-election holds in Rivers

    Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, yesterday lleged plans in some quarters of the state to create trouble during the Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHLGA), State House of Assembly by-election holding today and expressed the readiness of the state to resist such act.

    The governor warned that the election is not a do or die affair.

    The PHLGA constituency 3, state legislative seat became vacant last June,  following the resignation of the former member,  Victor Ihunwo who won the LGA chairmanship election and became the mayor of Port Harcourt on June 18, 2018.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) scheduled to hold the election to fill up the seat today.

    The head Vo INEC Voter Education in the state Mr. Edwin Enabor, yesterday said the exercise will hold in 142 units in the constituency with over 800 ad-hoc staff, and 200 INEC staff deployed to conduct the election.

    Enabor said the new face of INEC in the state notorious for violent elections is set to change the narrative by conducting violence free, fair and credible exercise today.

    He said four political parties would field candidates for the poll and assured a level playing ground for all.

    The political parties according to Enabor include the APC,  the PDP,  the  Democratic Alternative(DA) and the Mass Movement of Nigeria(MMN).

    He disclosed that hundreds of card reader machines that will be used in the election are ready and that  200 NYSC members trained for the exercise will serve as presiding officers while  INEC staff will handle the non sensitive aspect of the exercise, especially organising the polling centres and ensuring orderliness.

    Wike in  a statewide broadcast yesterday said,  “I wish to reiterate that this election, important as it is, must not be taken as a do or die affair. I therefore urge leaders of political parties and their candidates to advise their supporters to peacefully conduct themselves during and after the bye-election.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has promised that the bye-election shall be free, fair and credible.

    “The security agencies, especially the police have also promised to ensure adequate security for eligible voters and poll officials to ensure a peaceful, credible, and fair election.

    “The people of Rivers State expect and demand nothing less. Consequently, we take INEC and the security agencies at their word and expect them to deliver a bye-election in the affected constituency devoid of any electoral malfeasance.

    “I therefore call on all eligible voters in these communities to come out in your numbers not only to vote for the party and candidate of your choice but also to defend your votes and ensure  your votes count.”

    He disclosed alleged plans in some quarters of the state to create trouble during the polls and expressed the readiness of the state to resist such act.

    “Furthermore, we have it on good authority that some failed politicians are planning to use cultists and political thugs to intimidate voters and attempt to disrupt the voting process.

    “I wish to reiterate that the Rivers State Government will not close its eyes to such thoughtless acts by any person or group of persons to deny our people their God-given right to freely and fairly elect their leaders. We shall not hesitate to apply the full weight and force of government and the law on any delinquent.

    “We therefore advise all those who have no business with the election process to, in their own interest, keep their distance from the constituency during the duration of the bye-election,” he said.

     

  • INEC clears nine for Bauchi senatorial by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared nine candidates to contest in the August 11 Bauchi South Senatorial by-election.

    INEC Head of Voters Education and Publicity in the state, Yahaya Mohammed, listed those cleared as Haruna  Ayuba (ADC); Lawal Gumau (APC); Aminu Tukur (APP); Isa Yuguda (GPN); Usman Hassan (KP);  Husseini Umar (NNPP);  Usman Chaledi (PDC); Ladan Salihu, PDP and Maryam Bargel (SDP).

    Mohammed said the list of the candidates was submitted to the commission by their various parties after their primaries.

    On preparations for the election, Mohammed said the commission had recruited 3,500 ad hoc staff that would man the 1,944 polling units in the seven local government areas that constituted the senatorial district

  • PDP ready for Katsina North by-election

    •Govt buys N35m worth of Meningitis vaccine

    The Katsina State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ready for the Katsina North by-election whenever the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sets a date, it said yesterday.

    Its Publicity Secretary Sani Garba, in an interview, said about four candidates have shown interest in contesting the primaries.

    He said: “In 2015, the Buhari-political Tsunami swept away all the elective positions in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This time around, we want to disprove their one-party claim by beginning with a win of Katsina North.

    “We are not scared by the fact that the zone is the President’s home town.”

    The Katsina North seat became vacant following the death of Senator Mustapha Bukar of the APC.

    The government said it has bought N35 million worth of cerebro-spinal meningitis vaccines and other preventable child-killer diseases.

    Deputy Governor Mannir Yakubu spoke at the opening of the UNICEF-sponsored policy dialogue and advocacy for planning and resource mobilisation for child-health.

    He said: “We will continue to synergise with relevant agencies and development partners on the best way to strengthen our political commitment and mobilise resources to improve on child health, reduce infant mortality and intensify campaign on immunisation against polio and other related child-killer diseases.”

    Yakubu added that plans have been concluded to convert the state-owned orthopaedic hospital into a teaching hospital for the Umaru Musa Yar’dua University.

    The Special Assistant to the governor on Development Partners and Donor Agencies, Hajia Fatima Usman Katsina, said the dialogue was convened to draw the attention of stakeholders on health challenges facing the state.

    She added that effort is needed for improved health and sanitation habits among citizens, saying the enabling environment plays a key role in improving standard of living.

  • Widow wins Idemili North’s by-election

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Mrs Nkoli Mmegbuaneze, has won the by-election in Idemili North Constituency of Anambra State in Saturday’s poll.

    The constituency’s Returning Officer, Prof. James Epoke, of University of Calabar (UNICAL), announced the result yesterday at Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area.

    Epoke said Mrs Mmegbuanaeze polled 11,526, while Tony Muonagor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had 5,677; Nnebunwa Ude of the United Progressive Party (UPP) scored 2,940 and Charles Udezue of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 2,758.

    Nkoli replaced her husband, Mr Francis Mmegbuanaeze, who died on August 16.

    The Nigeria Police High Command has lauded the conduct of its officers and men involved the conduct of November 18 governorship election in Anambra State.

    The Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Operations) in Abuja, Mr Habila Joshak, spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    Joshak, who headed police operations during the November 18 governorship election, said the officers and men who participated in the election exhibited exemplary conduct.

    He said: “We are happy to say that none of our officers and men who took part in the provision of security during November 18 governorship election in Anambra State was linked to any misconduct.”

  • APC wins Sokoto by-election

    •Kalambaina replaces Wamakko

    Ahmad Abdullahi Kalambaina of All Progressives Congress (APC) has retained the party’s seat in the House of Representatives after winning Saturday’s by-election for Kware/Wamakko in Sokoto State.

    The poll was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Kalambaina replaced the late Aliyu Wamakko after polling 31,288 votes against his rival, Sadik Abubakar Kware, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 7,205 votes.

    Kware, after suffering defeat at the APC primaries, defected to PDP to secure an automatic ticket to contest against Kalambaina, the chairman of Wamakko Local Government.

    The Returning Officer, Prof. Abdulatif Usman, said 43,130 voters were accredited for the election of 176,825 registered voters.

    He said 42,532 electors voted, with 40,046 votes valid, and 2,486 rejected votes.

    Usman said Kabir Altine of ACPN scored 62 votes, Umaru Muhammad of ADC got 80 votes, Muktar Umar of APA polled 342 votes, Aliyu Bilyaminu of APGA received 121 votes, Abubakar Bello of DA got 32 votes and Jamilu Imam of DPP scored 155 votes.

  • Osun West by-election: Oyegun, governors seek support for Hussain

    Osun West by-election: Oyegun, governors seek support for Hussain

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigwe-Oyegun, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima and his Kebbi State counterpart, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, revved the party’s campaign as it rounded off its tour of Osun West Senatorial District ahead of tomorrow’s by-election.

    Odigie-Oyegun noted that since the APC won the 2014 governorship election in Osun State, the party had not lost any major election in Nigeria.

    The APC national chairman, who saluted the courage of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, said Osun is a major ground from where the party launched itself to the Federal level two years ago.

    Odigie-Oyegun spoke at yesterday’s mega rally and grand finale of APC campaign in Iwo.

    According to him, Osun is strategic to the party, so the people should ensure they vote for the party’s candidate, Senator Mudashiru Husdain.

    The APC national chairman urged the electorate to come out and vote for Hussain, adding that the election is crucial to the party and the state.

    Odigie-Oyegun described Hussain as a ranking member of the Senate, saying he would not occupy the back bench, if elected.

    He said: “I want you to know how important this election is to us. That is why you can see me and all party apparatchik here today.

    “As challenging as the situation is, Borno Governor Kashim Shettima came here to support us all.

    “We need Mudashiru Hussain in the Senate. He is a ranking man. He won’t sit at the back when he gets there. Osun will be represented well.

    “Since the governorship election victory here in Osun two years ago, we have not lost a major election. This is why Osun is strategic to APC as this election is also crucial to us.”

    The chairman hailed Aregbesola for his courage in facing the current hard time, which he said was not peculiar to the state.

    He reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to finding solutions to the social, political and economic problems the nation is undergoing.

    Odigie-Oyegun noted that the harsh economic situation was not created by APC.

    He said: “The Federal Government is working day and night to solve the problema. APC will not disappoint Nigeria.

    “I want you all to troop out and vote for our candidate. I hope in the next four days I will be able to tell President Muhammadu Buhari that Aregbesola has delivered once again and Hussain is back in the Senate.”

    Shettima, who handed over the party’s flag to Odigie-Oyegun, urged the people of the senatorial district to respect Aregbesola by voting overwhelmingly for the party.

    The governor said Aregbesola had performed well to deserve the honour of getting overwhelming votes for the APC candidate.

    Bagudu said Aregbesola’s performance was enough to give APC victory in any election in the state.

    He urged the electorate to troop out tomorrow and vote massively for Hussain.

  • Osun West by-election and its implications for 2018

    Osun West by-election and its implications for 2018

    A commentator, Debo Ayoade, examines the implications of the Osun West senatorial by-election for the next year’s governorship election in the State of Living Springs.

    On Saturday, July 8, the electorate in Osun West Senatorial District will go to the poll in a by-election to fill the vacant seat of the Late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. Osun State has being a two party State since the inception of this Republic.  The dominating parties have been the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any of its progressive forebears, that is Alliance for Democracy, Action Congress or Action Congress of Nigeria on one part and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the other part. Efforts by other parties to encroach by poaching aspirants who were dis-satisfied with the above political parties for one reason or the other in Osun State, have not succeeded so far like in other states. For both parties therefore, it matters that the forthcoming election is won, as it will be a psychological boost for 2018 governorship election in the State.

    Otunba Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke of the PDP and Senator Mudasiru Oyetunde Husain of the APC personify the proverbial “two horse race”. Otunba Ademola Adeleke is the junior brother of the Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, whilst Senator Mudasiru Husain was the Senator who represented the senatorial constituency between 2011 and 2015. Otunba Adeleke had earlier made his intention to run for the seat known within the APC fold but shifted his allegiance to PDP, when the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC gave Senator Husain was given the nod to run by APC’s NWC. The Screening Committee and the Screening Appeal Committee had earlier disqualified Husain from running for the by-election.

    The issues likely to come up during the campaign are multifarious. Whilst other issues may still come up, some issues that will definitely be raised are as follows:

    1. Will there be sympathy votes for Otunba Adeleke in view of the fact that his elder brother Senator Isiaka Adeleke just died?
    2. Will the votes of Ede, the town where the Adelekes hail be sufficient to deliver the senatorial district for PDP?
    3. Will it make a difference that Senator Husain hail from Ejigbo, the town that also produce the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly and the Honourable Member House of Representatives hail from Ejigbo, a town within the same federal constituency as Ede and one of the three federal constituencies in the senatorial district?
    4. Will the issue of the negative reportage of the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola affect the fortunes of Senator Husain?
    5. Will party loyalty prevail in APC despite rumblings within the ranks of some party leaders personally close to the Governor?
    6. And will the senatorial by-election affect the 2018 governorship race?

    Unlike other States where either by-election or general election has taken place in recent times, PDP is not divided on the candidature of Otunba Adeleke. He is more or less a consensus candidate. The reason is not far-fetched. Senator Iyiola Omisore being a smart politician used the opportunity of the candidature of Otunba Adeleke to close ranks with the Adeleke family and with the Sheriff Faction, which is obviously more on ground in Osun. He belongs to the Makarfi Faction. He also had brouhaha with the Late Senator Adeleke, who was reportedly rough-handled by Senator Omisore’s pal and former Minister for Police Affairs Jelili Adesiyan in 2014 at Ideal Nest Hotel, Osogbo during the PDP governorship election screening and primaries.

    In the up coming election, Ede will definitely vote for theirs, as they did for the elder brother. My prediction however is that even in Ede, the victory will not be landslide. There are already complaints and anxieties among the elites of Ede and even in the camp of Senator Isiaka Adeleke about attempt to turn Ede into “Kwara”. Otunba Adeleke’s father was a Senator in the second republic under the banner of Unity Party of Nigeria; his brother, the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke was a Governor (1992 – 1993) and served twice as Senator (2007 – 2011 and 2015 – 2017).

    While Senator Husain from Ejigbo was serving, the lot fell on an Ede man to become the Honourable Member, House of Representatives. With the stepping down of Senator Husain in 2015 and the emergence of Senator Isiaka Adeleke from Ede however, the lot correspondingly fell on an Ejigbo man as Honourable Member, House of Representatives. There is no visible indication at the moment that where Senator Husain comes from would matter in this election. It may one more time be an acid test of the robust, matured and enlightened politics of South Western Nigeria.

    Despite the explanation of the State Government that what it pays the civil servant is what it can afford at the moment and what it agreed with the Labour Union to pay, Osun has become a metaphor for non-payment of salaries.

    The Osun State APC Reactionary Forces recently emerged. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Honourable Lasun Yussuff represents one fold. He hitherto belonged to Aregbesola’s kitchen cabinet and was highly favoured by Ogbeni Aregbesola. They however fell apart on June 9, 2015 when Honourable Lasun Yusuf decided to disobey the southwest leadership of the party’s decision to support Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila’s ambition to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He chose to run instead as the Deputy Speaker. He has obviously lost favour of the party leadership in the state and in southwest. No party leader is known to be supporting his bid to be governor.

    The second fold of reactionary forces within Osun APC are Alhaji Fatai Diekola and Honourable SundayAkere, who was the erstwhile Commissioner for Information and Strategy. They fell out with the Governor for a plethora of reasons. Chiefly among these are their claim that the Governor was running the state government alone, without a cabinet and without consulting party leaders and stakeholders, before decisions are taken.

    The variables to the query relating to the consequence of the outcome of the 2017 senatorial by-election vis a vis the 2018 governorship election in Osun State are too numerous. APC, judging from all the previous elections in the state, is clearly the party to beat. Will the party-faithfuls tow the party line and vote according to party dictate? Are there intra-party squabbles that have not reared its ugly head?

    It is difficult to see if peradventure Otunba Ademola Adeleke wins the election, he will desire to run for governorship. He seems too green and unprepared for this. He may however be relevant when PDP is choosing who will run as running mate to the gubernatorial candidate, if the PDP governorship candidate is not from Osun West. If he loses the election on the other hand, it will amount to a short journey to “neverland”. It will most likely be one of the shortest political careers in history. It will also be a severe blow for the ego of his family.

    It is sufficient to say at the moment that in PDP, Senator Iyiola Omisore is trying his possible best to mend fences with Sheriff’s faction. He is from Ile-Ife and contested the 2014 governorship election against Governor Aregbesola. He is obviously warming up. He has been delivering lectures and repackaging himself. He also has financial muscle to flex; this will matter as PDP is no longer in power. During the 2014 governorship election he chose Rt. Hon. Adejare Bello from Ede as his running mate, he may consider picking Otunba Ademola Adeleke, if the latter becomes a Senator.

    Since Senator Iyiola Omisore is just mending fence with the ‘recognised’ PDP, others who are interested and eminently qualified may shut him out. They must however speak in unison and be resolute, which however is almost impossible in politics. Otherwise, he still seems to be the most potent force in PDP. Apart from Senator Iyiola Omisore, the other possible PDP contestants include:

    1. Alhaji Fatai Akinbade (Ogbagba, Osun West). Former Secretary Osun State Government;
    2. Chief Lere Oyewumi (Ikire, Osun West). Former Local Government Chairman, Former House of Representatives Member, presently Commissioner, National Population Commission;
    3. Rt. Hon. Adejare Bello (Ede, Osun West). Former Speaker Osun State House of Assembly, Senator Omisore’s running mate;
    4. Senator Kola Ogunwale (Iragbiji, Osun Central), Senator 2003 – 2007
    5. Barrister Kayode Oduoye (Ikirun, Osun Central), Ifelodun, Boripe, Odo-Otin Federal Constituency candidate 2015; and
    6. Dr. Ayoade Adewopo (Ile-Ife, Osun East), a lawyer and academia; and
    7. Chief Gbenga Owolabi (Ile-Ife, Osun East). Former Chairman, Ife East Local Government.

    Since Aregbesola is from Osun East senatorial district, will Senator Omisore still run for the governorship seat? The politics of zoning in Osun State is very interesting. Osun like every other state has three senatorial districts; West, Central and East. Osun also has nine federal constituencies, each senatorial district having three constituencies each. West – Iwo, Ikire, Ede; Central – Osogbo, Ikirun, Ila; and East – Ife, Ijesa South, Ijesa North. Whereas in the first republic, the entire Osun State as it is now has six Administrative Divisions, coincidentally, there are two each in every senatorial districts. West – Iwo and Ede, Central – Osogbo and Ila; and East – Ife and Ijesa. There are five sub-ethnic groups in Osun – Igbomina Osun, Osun Osun, Oyo Osun, Ife Osun and Ijesa Osun. All the military administrators were not from Osun State, meanwhile, there have been four civilian governors in the state. The Governors are as follows:

    1.  Senator Isiaka Adeleke (1992 – 1993). Osun West Senatorial District, Ede Federal Constituency, Ede Division, Oyo Osun;
    2. Chief Adebisi Akande (1999 – 2003). Osun Central, Ila Federal Constituency, Ila Division, Igbomina Osun;
    3. Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (2003 – 2010). Osun Central Senatorial District, Ifelodun, Boripe, Odo-Otin Federal Constituency, Ila Division, Osun Osun; and
    4. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2010 – till date). Osun East, Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ijesa Division, Ijesa Osun.

    Whilst it is obvious that at no point did Osun people sat to decide on zoning, it is only fair that geographical spread principle are adopted. Osun West have argued that it has been long the governorship came to their senatorial district, the Iwo bloc have maintained that if it has to come to West, it should be Iwo Division. The Osogbo Division argues that they are equally entitled, since their divisions have also been eluded. The Ife people have additionally indicated that although Aregbesola is from their senatorial district, he is not only from another Division but also from another sub-ethnic group. Stating that all other sub-ethnic groups have been opportune to produce governor except Ife.

    The following are the potential governorship candidates of APC:

    1. Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (Iragbiji, Osun Central). The Chief of Staff to the Governor;
    2. Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (Iwo, Osun West). Former Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Former Party Chairman, current Secretary to State Government;
    3. Rt. Hon. Nojeem Salaam (Ejigbo, Osun West). Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly;
    4. Elder Peter Babalola (Ikire, Osun West).  Former Commissioner and Chief of Staff.
    5. Barrister Kunle Adegoke (Osogbo, Osun Central). Practising Legal Practitioner;
    6. Senator Babajide Omoworare (Ile-Ife, Osun East).  Former Majority Leader, currently a Senator;
    7. Barrister Ajibola Bashir  (Osogbo, Osun Central), Former Commissioner, current Attorney General;
    8. Hon. Mojeed Alabi (Ejigbo, Osun West). Former Speaker, House of Assembly, currently Honourable Member, House of Representatives; and
    9. Mr. Bola Oyebamiji (Ikire, Osun West). Former Managing Director, Osun State Investment Company, currently Finance Commissioner.

    As a sidekick, I think I should mention that in spite of the fact that generally speaking, religion does not make any difference in Osun State, nay, the whole of South Western Nigeria. The Osun State Governor seems to have up the ante in this regard that the Christians are clamouring for the governorship. If I may ask rhetorically, why would Otunba Ademola Adeleke change his middle name with which he registered as a voter overnight from “Jackson” to “Nurudeen”? Ede is predominantly Muslim, Otunba Adeleke’s father’s religion; but he obviously hitherto practised his mother’s religion, Christianity.

    In conclusion, it is not clear whether zoning would be adopted or not. In view of its “triple barrel effect” it is also not clear what effect the victory of Senator Mudasiru Husain at the 8th July election may potential have on zoning in Osun State. Not with standing that it is on everyone’s tongue that the Governor and some leaders already have a favourite, it may be a hoax and some under dogs among the potentials may actually be supported.

    • Ayoade, an advertising executive and communications consultant from Ede, Osun State, writes from Lagos.

  • Osun by-election: Choose the best —APC urges voters

    THE All Progressives Congress chairman in the state of Osun, Prince Gboyega Famodun, has declared that only a politician who is trusted and experienced in the art of law making is worthy of representing Osun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly as replacement for late Sen Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.

    According to him, a green, inexperienced and unserious character would not be deserving of that position and therefore unsuitable to be elected as senator to represent the District.

    Prince Famodun made this remark at the weekend at Awo in Egbedore Local Government while on campaign tour of the District in support of APC candidate,  Sen. Mudashiru Hussain.

    The chairman emphasised that the choice before the people is stark. ‘It’s between a competent and tested APC candidate or an incompetent, inexperienced,  unserious and unstable PDP candidate.

    ‘The clear choice is Sen. Mudashiru Hussain who encapsulates all that characterise a worthy Senator,’ the APC chairman claimed.

    Justifying his claim that his candidate was the better choice, the chairman told his teeming and cheering supporters that Sen. Hussain had been a two-term lawmaker in Lagos before he was elected in 2011 to the Senate from Osun West.

    ‘You don’t leave such a person and then vote for a political wanderer, who had all his adult life in politics been just a cheer leader behind his elder brother. He is a rookie in the process of law making’, Famodun said.

    He therefore enjoined the people of Egbedore to vote massively for Sen Hussain  on July 8, because he would represent them better and promote development in the area.

    ‘This is an opportunity the people of Osun West Senatorial District should not miss’, APC chairman advocated.

  • Instituting court case sign PDP is smelling defeat over Osun West by-election —Group

    THE People’s Democratic Party was on Friday accused of looking desperately for means of thwarting the conduct of the July 8, 2017 senatorial by-election as scheduled with the decision by some expelled chieftains of the party to approach an Osogbo High Court to disqualify the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Mudashir Husain.

    Making the allegation on Friday, the Osun Development Vanguard (ODV) said the PDP is seeking to use expelled members of the APC who have switched camp to the PDP to achieve its dubious agenda.

    ODV’s statement signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Isiaq Oyewumi Okanlawon and Secretary, Kamil Mudashir Opeyemi, said the suit filed by the Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state, Pastor Olatunji Popoola and expelled State Auditor of the APC, Mr. Tajudeen Adekunbi, was a clear indication that the PDP was certain it has not foothold to face this election.

    The organization said with barely one week to election, it is unthinkable that the duo, under the influence of the PDP, would seek to disqualify the APC candidate.

    “We must see their so-called suit for what it is, a sheer waste of time and a calculated attempt at thwarting the conduct of the election.

  • No plan to shift Osun West by-election, says INEC

    No plan to shift Osun West by-election, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it will not shift the July 8 date for the conduct of Osun West Senatorial by-election.

    INEC Chairman’s Chief Press Secretary Rotimi Oyekanmi said there was no condition to warrant the shift of the election date.

    He said the election would go own as planned.

    Oyekanmi noted that once an election date has been announced, the commission has no power to shift the date except on two conditions: a natural disaster or threat to life of INEC officials and the electorate.

    The commission was apparently reacting to a statement credited to the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that there were plans by the Osun State government to force the commission to shift the election date.