Kogi election: INEC settles for November 16

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed November 16 for fresh senatorial election in Kogi West Senatorial District.

INEC National Commissioner, Information and Voters Education, Barrister Festus Okoye made the disclosure on Monday in a press statement.

With the development, the election for a new senator for Kogi West Senatorial District will now hold simultaneously with the state governorship election earlier fixed for the same date by the electoral umpire.

Nigerian Tribune findings revealed that the Kogi State National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal had in a judgement delivered on August 23, 2019, nullified the mandate of Senator Dino Melaye in the February 23, 2019 election.

The tribunal  in a two-to-one majority judgement upheld the petition filed by Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress challenging Melaye’s victory at the March 23, 2019 poll

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The majority decision of the tribunal had upheld the petition filed by Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress challenging Melaye’s victory at the March 23, 2019 poll.

The Court of Appeal in a lead judgement by Abubakar Yahaya, following an appeal filed by Senator Melaye, ordered the latter’s removal as the senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh election for the senatorial district within 90 days.

Okoye in his statement also gave November 30 for the conduct of by-election for Sabuwa state Constituency of Katsina State House of Assembly following the death of Honourable Mustapha Abdullahi.

The statement further cautioned political parties to eschew violence.