Leading up to the Bye Elections scheduled for February 3 in select states of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the definitive list and personal details of candidates participating in the polls.
This information was conveyed in an official statement on Wednesday in Abuja by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
The published list comprises 66 male and eight female candidates for the upcoming elections, with none representing the Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) community. It is noteworthy that, according to the World Bank, there is no precise estimate of the number of people with disabilities in Nigeria. However, data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicates that about 7% of household members aged five or above (as well as 9% of those aged 60 or older) face some level of difficulty in at least one functional domain, such as seeing, hearing, communication, cognition, walking, or self-care. Presently, there are more than 27 million Nigerians living with disabilities.
Olumekun clarified in the statement that the publication is specific to the upcoming bye-elections, which involve fresh elections where political parties conducted primaries and nominated their candidates. For rerun elections happening concurrently, the list and personal particulars of candidates had already been published before the 2023 General Election, as these rerun elections are in response to orders from the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. Unlike fresh elections, rerun elections do not welcome new or disqualified candidates, eliminating the need for republishing their personal details.
The vacancies prompting the bye-elections result from the death or resignation of Members of the National and State Houses of Assembly. These elections will take place on Saturday, February 3, 2024, across nine states of the Federation, encompassing two Senatorial Districts, four Federal Constituencies, and three State Constituencies.
As outlined in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the personal details and final list of candidates have been released on Wednesday in the State offices and affected constituencies. This complies with the provision of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022. Additionally, the list of candidates is accessible on the INEC website and various social media platforms.
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