The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the re-run election for Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency, Niger for Feb. 6, 2021.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye, in a statement in Abuja, said the decision was taken at the commission’s meeting on Thursday.
Okoye said that the commission met and deliberated on a number of issues including the Court of Appeal judgement on Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency election.
Okoye recalled that the Commission conducted by-election in Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency on March 14 and returned Kasimu Danjuma of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as duly elected.
However, on Sept. 21, the Election Petitions Tribunal disqualified Danjuma and nullified his election.
On Nov. 17 the Court of Appeal affirmed the disqualification and nullification of the said election and ordered the Commission to conduct re-run election within 90 days from the date of the judgment.
Okoye said: “It is important to note that the disqualification and nullification of the election was based on the ground that the candidate submitted forged documents to the Commission.
“This has nothing to do with any infraction on the part of the Commission.”
Okoye said that consequently, INEC decided that Danjuma and the APC would not participate in the election, as the candidate had been disqualified and the election nullified by the Court
He added that only duly nominated and qualified candidates of African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were eligible to participate in the election.
“Fresh nomination of candidates is not allowed in a court-ordered re-run election.”
Okoye said that the commission would give the statutory notice of election on Jan. 11, 2021 while political parties would submit the list of their party agents on Jan. 29, 2021.
He noted that the last day for campaigns would be Feb. 4, 2021.
“The timetable and schedule of activities for the election has been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.” (NAN)
