The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed July 23, 2016 for the conclusion of the suspended re-run elections in Kogi and Imo states, and July 30, 2016 for those of Rivers and Kano.
The elections are to fill the empty legislative seats at the federal and states levels.
Chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, announced the dates on Thursday, June 30, 2016 following a national stakeholders’ forum on the elections.
Before Thursday’s meeting with stakeholders, INEC met with security agencies on Tuesday and resident electoral commissioners on Wednesday. The dates were chosen based on the consultations with stakeholders and security agencies.
The stakeholders present at the meeting on Thursday were political parties in Nigeria, the candidates involved in the elections, security agencies, resident electoral commissioners for the affected states, civil society organizations, and members of the Nigerian press.
INEC had come under heavy criticism for its suspension of elections in the states.
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce had called the electoral body’s actions “unconstitutional” on the floor of the senate.
Human rights organisation, Intersociety had condemned the action of INEC as well. The organisation had written a series of petitions to the United Nations and foreign governments.
A coalition of human rights organisations in the South East of Nigeria had also accused INEC of following the dictates of President Muhammadu Buhari’s draconian regime in depriving millions of citizens from having quality legislative representation. The group warned that by this action, INEC was inviting anarchy in the affected states.
