Bye-Elections: APC Constitutes Committees To Conduct Primaries In Lagos, Ondo, Others

Ahead of the February 3, 2024 bye-elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has constituted committees to conduct primary elections for filling vacancies in both national and state assemblies.

These committees are to manage the primaries in nine states ahead of the bye-elections.

Osun Defender reports that the primary elections will take place in Lagos, Ondo, Kebbi, Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Kaduna, Ebonyi, and Borno states.

Most vacancies arose due to the appointment of National Assembly members to executive positions by President Bola Tinubu. Five serving members were appointed to his cabinet, including the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Minister of State for Education, Tanko Sununu.

Umahi and Gaidam represented Ebonyi South and Yobe East in the Senate, respectively, while Gbajabiamila served as the legislator for Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State. Sununu and Tunji-Ojo were members of the House representing Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency of Kebbi State and Akoko North-east/Akoko North-west Federal Constituency of Ondo State, respectively.

There is also a vacancy in Taraba State’s Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency following the death of Isma’ila Maihanchi.

Vacancies also exist in the state assemblies of Kaduna, Benue, and Borno states.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had released a timetable for these bye-elections and re-runs last month, with party primaries and dispute resolutions scheduled from 5 to 9 January.