All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially picked Alhaji Yahaya as replacement for late Prince Abubakar Audu as its candidate in the inconclusive Kogi governorship election and has forwarded his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The INEC Deputy Director of Publicity, Nick Dazang confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the receipt of the APC letter naming Yahaya Bello as its candidate in the December 5 supplementary election in the 91 polling units of Kogi state, to complete the results for the election that was declared inconclusive on November 22 after the election of November 21.
Dazang, who could not say when exactly the APC submitted Bello’s name however, confirmed: “they (APC) have sent the name of their replacement candidate, the second runner-up in their primaries, that is Yahaya Bello, to the commission.”
The deputy director said that the commission is ready to conduct both Kogi State supplementary and Bayelsa State elections, scheduled for December 5.
“The commission is committed to conduct the two elections. That is why in respect of kogi, in spite of what happened, we came out with public notice which invites the APC to submit its replacement candidate for the election.”
Dazang said that as part of the commission’s preparation for the Bayelsa State poll, INEC would be holding stakeholders’ forum in the state tomorrow, adding that INEC had concluded the distribution of non-sensitive materials for the Bayelsa State poll.
He said that the commission would be going to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to collect sensitive materials for onward distribution for the Bayelsa State election on Wednesday.
“After the stakeholders’ forum, the commission will immediately on Wednesday commence the distribution of sensitive materials in the state.
“We are inviting the representatives of political parties, their agents, observers, Civil Society Organisations and the media, among others, to witness the distribution of sensitive materials.”
Dazang said the commission would deploy its officers at National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners levels from neighbouring states to monitor the Bayelsa State election.
“You will agree with me that we don’t take any election for granted, no matter how small it is.” [myad]
