Senate President Bukola Saraki has finally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) about the vacancies in the Bauchi South and Katsina North Senatorial Districts, following the death of Senators Ali Wakili and Mustapha Bukar on Saturday.
The commission also received similar information from the Cross River State House of Assembly about the demise of the member representing Obudu 1 State Constituency in the House.
The INEC, in a press release, issued on Friday by its National Commissioner, Malam Mohammed Haruna, said a detailed timetable and schedule of activities would be issued next week leading to the conduct of the polls to fill the three vacancies.
The release read, “The INEC wishes to inform the public that it has today (Friday) received information from the President of the Senate about existing vacancies in the Bauchi South and Katsina North Senatorial Districts, occasioned by the death of the Senators representing the said districts.
“The Commission will, in accordance with relevant constitutional and statutory provisions, issue a detailed timetable and schedule of activities next week leading to the conduct of the polls to fill the vacancies.
“It should be noted that there have been reports in the media of the death of her representatives in the National as well as State Assemblies. However, these have not been formally communicated to the Commission and no vacancies have been declared by the Presiding officers of the respective Houses.”
The INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had said on April 17, 2018 that the electoral body would organise four bye- elections to fill vacancies in Takum State Constituency in Taraba State, Lokoja/Koton-Karfe Constituency in Kogi State, Bauchi South Senatorial District in Bauchi State, and Katsina North Senatorial District in Katsina State.
Recalled that there have been series of protests over the seeming refusal to declare the seats of the late federal lawmakers vacant by Senate President and Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives.
