By Milcah Tanimu

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has established committees to oversee primary elections in nine states, both at the national and state assembly levels, ahead of the bye-elections scheduled for February 3. The primary elections will be conducted in Lagos, Ondo, Kebbi, Taraba, Yobe, Benue, Kaduna, Ebonyi, and Borno states.

The vacancies arose primarily due to the appointment of National Assembly members to executive positions by President Bola Tinubu. Notably, five serving members were appointed to his cabinet, leading to vacancies in various constituencies.

In Ebonyi State, vacancies emerged in the Senate for Ebonyi South and Yobe East due to the appointment of Dave Umahi and Ibrahim Gaidam, respectively. Femi Gbajabiamila’s appointment as Chief of Staff resulted in a vacancy in Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State. Other vacancies occurred in Kebbi, Ondo, Taraba, Kaduna, Benue, and Borno states.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released a timetable for the bye-elections and re-runs, with party primaries and dispute resolutions scheduled from January 5 to January 9.

For Ebonyi State, committees have been formed, including a seven-member screening committee chaired by Smart Iheasor and a five-member appeal committee chaired by Aliyu Kunde. Yobe State will see four committees overseeing the primaries in Yobe East, each focusing on screening, screening appeal, primary election, and primary election appeal.

In Surulere I Federal Constituency, a five-member committee chaired by Buba Yusuf will conduct the primary election. Additionally, there will be screening and appeal committees for the constituency, led by Hakeem Okunade and others.

Apart from the bye-elections, INEC is also conducting re-run elections in 35 constituencies due to the decisions of various election petition tribunals.