Niger-East Senatorial Zone bye-election Moved to August 30
The Niger East Senatorial Zone by-election which was originally slated for August 16, 2014 is now to hold on the 30th of August 2014, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner has announced.
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Niger state, Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo, disclosed this on Friday at a stakeholders meeting with party leaders in Minna.
He said the change of date was to allow INEC resolve some logistical challenges for a smooth conduct of the election.
"The change is in accordance to the provisions of Section 30 (3) of Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended), which allows a change 14 days to the announced date", Onucheyo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the parties represented at the meeting except the APC agreed to the change, after a period of recess for consultations.
The Niger APC Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Imam, described the date change as unconstitutional, saying the Electoral Act should not be seen to supersede the country’s Constitution.
"Section 76 of the 1999 Constitution which states `Election to hold on a date not later than one month after a vacancy occurs in the Senate’ supersedes Section 30 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010," he said.
Imam pointed out that holding the election on Aug. 16 was the only way the constitutional provision of one month could be met by INEC
Meanwhile the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state has threatened to boycott the forthcoming bye-election if the Residence Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, is allowed to preside over the election.
The party stated this in a statement issued last week in Minna by its state Publicity Secretary, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, insisting that allegations against the REC of his romance with the PDP-led government in Niger state had been proven to be correct.
The APC spokesman also said apart from the REC romance with the PDP government, APC had discovered that Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo "is a card-carrying member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having contested and was defeated as PDP governorship Aspirant in Kogi state during the 2003 general elections."
"There is no doubt that as a PDP card carrying member, Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, will certainly have the sympathy for the Party (PDP) and APC therefore believe that he cannot conduct a free and fair election under these circumstances."
Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Niger state, Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo, disclosed this on Friday at a stakeholders meeting with party leaders in Minna.
He said the change of date was to allow INEC resolve some logistical challenges for a smooth conduct of the election.
"The change is in accordance to the provisions of Section 30 (3) of Electoral Act 2010 (As Amended), which allows a change 14 days to the announced date", Onucheyo said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the parties represented at the meeting except the APC agreed to the change, after a period of recess for consultations.
The Niger APC Chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Imam, described the date change as unconstitutional, saying the Electoral Act should not be seen to supersede the country’s Constitution.
"Section 76 of the 1999 Constitution which states `Election to hold on a date not later than one month after a vacancy occurs in the Senate’ supersedes Section 30 (3) of the Electoral Act 2010," he said.
Imam pointed out that holding the election on Aug. 16 was the only way the constitutional provision of one month could be met by INEC
Meanwhile the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state has threatened to boycott the forthcoming bye-election if the Residence Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, is allowed to preside over the election.
The party stated this in a statement issued last week in Minna by its state Publicity Secretary, Mr Jonathan Vatsa, insisting that allegations against the REC of his romance with the PDP-led government in Niger state had been proven to be correct.
The APC spokesman also said apart from the REC romance with the PDP government, APC had discovered that Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo "is a card-carrying member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), having contested and was defeated as PDP governorship Aspirant in Kogi state during the 2003 general elections."
"There is no doubt that as a PDP card carrying member, Dr. Emmanuel Onucheyo, will certainly have the sympathy for the Party (PDP) and APC therefore believe that he cannot conduct a free and fair election under these circumstances."
Niger-East Senatorial Zone bye-election Moved to August 30
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