The Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Kayode Idowu has insisted that that the bye election in Adamawa State to be conducted by the commisison is to fill the void left in the State’s Government House.
Mr. Idowu who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily from Abuja via Skype on Wednesday, emphasised that the election in Adamawa State to be conducted on October 11, is a bye election to complete the tenure of the present dispensation which was made vacant as a result of the impeachment of former Governor, Murtala Nyako.
”It is a bye election to complete the tenure of the vacancy in power in the state”. Mr Idowu said.
He said INEC has put in place logistics for the success of the bye election even as the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) have been distributed all over the state except for five local government areas where there are security challenges.
”INEC is prepared for the bye election in Adamawa state as the permanent voter card is been distributed all over the state aside five local government areas, Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South and Maiha for obvious reasons.
He said eligible voters in the state will use their PVC in the election, except people residing in the affected local government areas, who are expected to use their temporary voters card because of the security challenges.
Mr. Idowu said INEC has consulted widely with security agencies and the Inter Consultative Committee On Elections Security to fine tune their operation in the bye election.
With the tenure expected to end on May 29th 2015, Mr. Idowu insists that there will be another election in the state in February 2015 for the seat of the governorship election for another four year term.
Despite not giving in to argument about the legality of the bye election and the election thereafter in the state, Mr. Idowu reiterated that INEC is conducting the election based on strong legal advice.
”I can only speak about what the commission is doing and I am sure INEC is conducting the election based on sound legal advice.
”The much i know is that the commission will conduct the bye election in October and another election in February 2015”.
With the claims that the former deputy governor of the state went to court stopping the commission from conducting the bye election as he did not resign, Mr. Idowu insisted that there is no court order stopping INEC from conducting the bye election in Adamawa State.
”As we speak, there is no court order stopping INEC from carrying out a constitutionally mandated duty.
”So the commission have to work on specifics as the constitution says when there is a vacancy in power it has to be filled up within a certain time as stipulated and INEC is going by the code book”.
He revealed that the ongoing voters registration will commence after the bye election as the registration in Adamawa state has been scheduled to be among the twelve states in the third phase.
