Dino Melaye VS Smart Adeyemi: INEC releases date for fresh election

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the date for

the fresh Kogi West Senatorial election involving Senator Dino Melaye of the

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Senator Smart Adeyemi of the All

Progressives Congress, APC.

INEC, in a statement signed Festus Okoye, Chairman of its Information and Voter

Committee, said that the senate election would hold simultaneously with the Kogi

governorship election on 16 November, 2019.

Okoye, INEC National Commissioner, in a statement made available to newsmen

on Monday in Abuja, said that another by-election for the Sabuwa State

Constituency in Katsina State, had been slated for Nov. 30. “The decision was

taken at the commission’s meeting held on Monday,” the statement said.

He said that the fresh election was sequel to the nullification of the Kogi West

Senatorial District election conducted on Feb. 23, by the Election Petitions

Tribunal and its subsequent affirmation by the Court of Appeal. The Court of

Appeal had upheld the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal which nullified the

election of Sen. Dino Melaye (PDP), following a suit filed by Sen. Smart Adeyemi

of the APC.

The Appeal Court, on Oct. 11, 2019, ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election

within 90 days from the date of judgment with all those who participated in it as

eligible candidates. Okoye appealed to the candidates and political parties to

conduct issue-based campaigns. “We also enjoin stakeholders to eschew

violence and avoid acts capable of creating apprehension or a sense of fear

before, during and after the elections,’’ he said.

Okoye also disclosed that following extensive consultations with stakeholders and

a review of the security situation with the relevant security agencies, the

Commission fixed Nov. 30 for the conduct of bye-election in Sabuwa State

Constituency, Katsina State. He recalled that the Katsina State House of

Assembly, vide a letter with Reference Number KTSHA/PER/HON/l24/VOL.l/24,

dated Sept. 26, notified INEC of the death of Mustapha Abdullahi, who

represented the constituency, and and subsequently declared the seat vacant.

He said that the Commission would issue the Notice of Election on Oct. 23, while

the conduct of party primaries would take place between Oct. 24 and Nov. 6.

According to Okoye, the last day for the submission of personal particulars of

candidates (form CF001), and the list of candidates (Form CFOO2), is Nov.

8. “The last day for the submission of names and addresses of polling agents is

Nov. 15, while campaigns will end on Nov. 28,” he said.