Aspirants for Anambra South Senatorial district by-election accuse INEC of undue frustration
By: Ijeoma Sandra, Nnewi.
Delay in conducting a by-election in Anambra South Senatorial district to replace Senator Ifeanyi Ubah who died in July 2024 has attracted the anger of aspirants already in the ring from various political parties to contest.
One of the contestants under the Young Progressives Party (YPP)’s platform, Prince Samben Nwosu who addressed the press in Nnewi, yesterday, on the subject matter complained bitterly.
He disclosed that the electoral zone had already recorded a monumental loss as a result of the existing vacancy.
He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was in default and should be held responsible as masterminds of losses of the constituents of the area in that regard.
He noted that such a long delay in conducting the by-election for nearly one year now is capable of disrupting peace and could lead to the constituents of Anambra South resorting to self-help to drive home their anger.
“INEC should come and conduct the by-election. It’s almost one year since the seat became vacant. We are now out of the system. We are on autopilot and nobody decides for us in the Senate.
“If you decide anything in Nigeria today, Anambra South is not part of it. We are only on default.
“Remember that this is a Senatorial zone at a time had the Vice President of Nigeria; at a time had the Speaker of the House of Representatives; at a time had the Senate President; and at a time had the Chairman of the nation’s electoral umpire, National Electoral Commission (NEC) in the person of late Professor Humphrey Nwosu.
“How can they treat us like this? Is it that we are not known?
“I challenge the press to do the needful and bring this unwarranted delay to the front burner on a daily basis. It is your job and you should not keep quiet.
“INEC should be told to conduct the by-election. The press people are there and they allow this to happen. It’s not fair. There’s a position in the law and the period of 90 days to fill the vacancy has since elapsed.
“INEC giving excuses of not having funds is surprising to me. How can an umpire like that give the impression that they don’t have contingency funds set aside to run the by-election? How much will it take them to do it?
“As far as I’m concerned, INEC is not being fair to Anambra South and the zone has been losing a lot.
“Is INEC not preparing for the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State? But in the case of the Anambra South Senatorial district by-election, no guidelines, no date, nothing. INEC knows what to do, “he submitted.
On whether he suspects that a person or group of persons might be benefitting from the delay, he declined comment on that.
Many aspirants have already spent fortune on sensitization of the electorate for the upcoming by-election without an end in sight.
Recall that following the timeline according to the Electoral Act 2022, INEC is required to conduct by-elections within 90 days (3 months) from the date of receipt of the notification of the vacancy.
Before the by-election, INEC needs time to prepare, which includes updating voter registries, setting up polling stations, and nominating candidates.
But none of these has been done, as gathered.
However, while the law stipulates a 90-day window, various factors can influence the actual timeline, such as logistical challenges, security concerns, or other unforeseen circumstances.
