The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, April 10, 2021, as the date for the conduct for the bye-election to fill the vacant seat for Isoko North State Constituency of Delta State.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye disclosed this on Tuesday, after a meeting of the Commission.
Okoye noted that the vacancy arose as a result of the death of Hon. Tim Kome Owhefere, member representing Isoko North State Constituency of Delta State in the House of Assembly and the subsequent declaration of vacancy for the State Constituency by the Delta State House of Assembly.
He stated that official notification for the election will be published on Wednesday 10th March 2021.
According to him, Political Parties shall conduct their primaries between 11th and 20th March 2021 while the last day for submission of the list of nominated candidates is at 6pm on the 24th March 2021.
He further said Political Parties shall submit the names of their Polling Agents for the election to the Electoral Officer of the Local Government on or before 27th March 2021 and campaigns by Political parties shall stop on 8th April 2021, adding that Access Code for the nomination forms shall be available for collection from 20th March 2021 at the Commission’s Headquarters.
He urged political parties fielding candidates for the bye-election to pay close attention to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the bye-election and to conduct transparent and valid party primaries in line with the dictates of Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 [As amended].
He also enjoined political parties to note that under section 31(8) of the Electoral Act, a political party that presents to the Commission the name of a candidate who does not meet the qualifications stipulated in the Constitution and the Electoral Act shall be guilty of an offence and on conviction shall be liable to a maximum fine of N500, 000.00.
The detailed Timetable and Schedule of activities has been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.
