The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is currently overseeing bye and re-run elections in 80 Local Government Areas (LGAs) across 26 states of the federation.
A total of 4,613,291 Nigerians, armed with their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), are expected to participate in the exercise, which aims to replace members who have either died or resigned from the national and state assemblies.
According to INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, the elections will fill vacancies in three senatorial districts, 17 federal, and 28 state constituencies, spanning 80 local government areas, 575 registration areas/wards, and 8,934 polling units. Out of the 4,904,627 registered voters, 4,613,291 PVCs have been collected.
The states where these elections are taking place include Ebonyi, Yobe, Kebbi, Lagos, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Jigawa, Katsina, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Okay.ng learnt that INEC collaborated with the Nigerian Air Force to airlift sensitive and electoral materials to designated areas. The distribution of sensitive materials has already commenced to some of the states where rerun and by-elections are scheduled for Saturday.
Ahead of the elections, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced the restriction of vehicular and human movements within the affected areas from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day.
However, essential services, INEC officials, electoral observers, accredited media, ambulances, and firefighters are exempted from the restriction.
Additionally, a ban has been placed on security aides and escorts accompanying VIPs and politicians to polling booths and collation centers during the election, aiming to prevent undue interference or intimidation.
