By-Election: 3.9 Million Voters To Determine Outcome Of 15 Vacant Seats

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that 3,993,272 million voters will vote at the By-election to fill 15 vacant seats across 11 states of the Federation on Saturday, 5th of November 2020.

The By-Election which will take place on Saturday at 5,856 polling units across 11 states is to fill elective legislative seats made vacant as a result of the demise of the former occupant of the position or court verdict.

READ ALSO: INEC Fixes Date For All Pending By-Elections

A very good example of a legislative seat left vacant as a result of court verdict is the situation of Rivers state governor Duoye Diri who was a senator before the Supreme court sacked David Lyon the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was declared the winner of the Governorship election by INEC, So the senatorial seat occupied by Diri was left vacant after Diri proceeded to assume his new position as the governor of the state.

Another reason an elective position could be made vacant is on the event of the death of the occupant of the legislative seat. It will be recalled that the Lagos East senatorial district seat became vacant after the death of Adebayo Osinowo who died on June 15 2020.

With 15 legislative seats made vacant across 11 states of the Federation, 3.9 million voters have been declared eligible to participate at the forthcoming By-Election.

The By-Election is to be conducted in Lagos, Kogi, Zamfara, Kastina, Enugu, Imo, Cross River, Plateau, Zamfara, Borno and Bayelsa.

Police Restricts Movement Ahead of By-Election

AllNews recalls that Hakeem Odumosu, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos state had on Friday declared restriction of movements ahead of the Lagos East bye-election.

In a statement released on Friday, by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the restriction of movement would be between 6 am and 6 pm on Saturday.

He explained that the move is to ensure free, fair, and credible poll into the Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe 11 Constituency.

He said, "In a bid to have free, fair and credible bye-elections into the Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe 11 Constituency, Lagos State House of Assembly seats, the Lagos State Police Command has declared restriction of movement between 6 am and 6 pm on Saturday, 5th December 2020.

"The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, made the declaration today Thursday 3rd December 2020 while deliberating on the strategies put in place with the election monitoring officers deployed from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, to assist and monitor the elections in Lagos State.

"The election monitoring team, which comprises two Commissioners of Police, some Assistant Commissioners of Police and other officers, led by the Commissioner of Police,  Community Policing, Force Headquarters, CP Kola Okunola, reported to Lagos State Command today 3rd December 2020, in preparation for the deployment and monitoring of police personnel and other security agents detailed for the election duties.

"The Command has deployed a reasonable number of police personnel and other security agents to cover and provide security at the one thousand, nine hundred and twenty-eight (1,928) polling units in the areas.

"The Commissioner of Police reiterated that there will not be both vehicular and pedestrian movement in and out of the affected Local Government Areas during the elections, except those on election duties, essential services and accredited domestic and foreign election observers.

"The affected Local Government Areas for the two legislative seats include Epe, Ibeju Lekki,  Kosofe and Somolu.

"The Police Boss warned the electorate and political gladiators to play the game according to the rules and provisions of the Electoral Acts 2010. He also warned that no police aides or security agents will be allowed to escort their principals or any Very Important Personalities (VIPs) to polling units or on any movement while the elections last, noting that any security aides violating this directive will be arrested and made to face the full weight of the law."

CP Hakeem Odumosu assured the general public of safety and smooth conduct of the elections.

INEC Officials Headed To Ujeh Ahead of Kogi By-Election

While in Kogi on Friday, INEC officials took off at exactly 6.16 pm in a canoe to Ujeh ahead of the  State House Of Assembly bye-election, holding at Ibaji, Kogi State.