There is palpable anxiety among Nigerians as the electorate troop out to vote replacement for immediate Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, former senator representing Ebonyi South, David Umahi among others across the country....CONTINUE READING
The Rt. Hon Gbajabiamila opted out of lawmaking to emerge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chief of Staff while Senator David Umahi pulled out of the Ebonyi South senatorial seat to take a political appointment as Federal Minister of Works.
Blueprint Weekend gathered that the uncertainty in the elections is coming on the heels of protests in Plateau state by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which threatens to boycott the rerun polls in Plateau state over the omission of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) logo on the ballot papers; just as members of the party in Ebonyi and other states fear that the conduct of the polls may not be free and fair against the background of alleged negative comments from the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The state chairman of the party, Chief Stanley Okoro-Emegha, had while briefing journalists in his office penultimate weekend, boasted that the Ebonyi South senatorial seat belongs to APC.
“Election is going to come up in Ebonyi South. We are waiting for INEC declaration and then, we will do the needful and my party will fill a candidate that by all standard will win that seat for us, because that seat belongs to APC, and that position belongs to APC.
“There is no any seat that has been won by the APC that I as the party Chairman will allow to go to opposition. The party will fill a credible candidate that will win that seat for us. You use a popular candidate that is acceptable by the people to win an election and that is what we will do in the rerun for Ebonyi South,” he stated.
Aware of the imminent concerns, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun has ordered restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation from 12 am to 6pm in 26 states holding rerun and bye-elections today.
This is with the exclusion of those on essential duties such as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, election observers, accredited journalists, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters among others.
Also, in response to the security challenges across the country and in order to secure a peaceful atmosphere for the polls, the Department of State Services (DSS), Friday, called on the electorate and participating political parties in the February 3, 2024 elections to observe good conduct during and after the exercises in the affected states.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in a statement issued by the National Commissioner Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, the bye-elections resulted from the resignation or demise of members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.
He said the vacancies occurred across two Senatorial Districts, four Federal Constituencies and three State Constituencies, spanning nine states of the Federation.
He added that the Commission is conducting re-run elections stemming from the 2023 general election, as directed by various Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. Currently, 35 constituencies are affected by these court-ordered elections. While three cover entire constituencies, others involve only a few polling units.
States where elections will hold
Specifically, elections will be held in the following 26 states; Ebonyi, Yobe, Kebbi, Lagos, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau and Akwa Ibom.
Others are Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Jigawa, Katsina, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
In Lagos, bye-election will be held in Surelere 1 Federal Constituency after the seat became vacant following the appointment of former Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who represented the constituency before he was appointed the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.
The IG also ordered a ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
DSS sounds note of warning
Calling for a seamless exercise, the Department of State Services tasked the contending parties to shun all acts capable of causing a breakdown of law and order.
The Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, DSS National Headquarters, Peter Afunanya, in a statement, called on politicians and their supporters to adhere to peaceful conduct during the elections.
The DSS enjoined citizens to be patriotic and loyal to the Nigerian nation beyond the elections.
It also urged public commentators, social critics and key players in the public space to consider the peace of the country over and above their personal or group interests.
The Service similarly urged the media, civil society and community based organisations are encouraged to shun divisive tendencies and fake narratives likely to undermine national order.
“It is unarguable that it is only if there is a livable country that individuals, groups or corporate bodies can pursue and realise their legitimate businesses and ambitions. The Service, therefore, advises those engaging in subversive endeavours or desirous of doing so to desist from such; consequently, it will not hesitate to bring defaulters, no matter how highly placed, to face the full weight of the law.
“On its part, the Service, in the discharge of its mandate, will work with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), other sister security and law enforcement agencies and indeed all stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free election. Additionally, it will continue to implement proactive measures to achieve the desired stability in the country.”
…IPAC, PDP threaten boycott in Plateau
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Plateau state has vowed to boycott today’s rerun polls in Plateau state over the exclusion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the ballot papers.
IPAC said unless all parties are represented on the ballot papers, no political party would participate in the election.
Following this, there was unease among supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday during the distribution of election materials for the elections.
The elections are being held to fill the seats for Plateau North senatorial district and Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency declared vacant by the courts.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials in the six local government areas of the state ahead of the elections. The distribution was done on the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Jos, the state capital.
The development caused tension in the area as supporters of the PDP, who witnessed the distribution, protested the exclusion of their party, arguing that INEC was acting against the Court of Appeal judgement, which said all parties shall contest in the re-run.
The logo of the PDP is missing on the ballot papers while those of the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Redemption Party and Labour Party are on it.
Others who were present at the distribution exercise were representatives of the other political parties, observers, journalists and security officers.
