Finally, Yahaya Bello Replaces Audu, As APC Officially Writes INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has received the request by the All Progressives Congress to replace the late Abubakar Audu’s name with that of Yahaya Bello for the December 5 supplementary governorship election in Kogi State.

Nick Dazang, the INEC Deputy Director of Publicity, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.

Dazang, however, did not disclose when the commission received the request.

“They have sent the name of their replacement candidate, the second runner-up in their primaries, that is Yahaya Bello, to the commission,” Dazang said.

The deputy director also told NAN that the commission was much ready to conduct both Kogi State supplementary and Bayelsa State elections, both scheduled for December 5.

Dazang said: “The commission is committed to conduct the two elections.

“That is why in respect of kogi, in spite of what happened, we came out with public notice which invites the APC to submit its replacement candidate for the election.”

Dazang said as part of the commission’s preparation for the Bayelsa State poll, INEC would be holding stakeholders’ forum in the state on Tuesday.

The deputy director added that INEC had concluded the distribution of non-sensitive materials for the Bayelsa State poll.

He also said the commission would be going to Central Bank of Nigeria to collect sensitive materials for onward distribution for the Bayelsa State election on Wednesday.

Dazang said: “After the stakeholders’ forum, the commission will immediately on Wednesday commence the distribution of sensitive materials in the state.

“We are inviting the representatives of political parties, their agents, observers, Civil Society Organisations and the media, among others, to witness the distribution of sensitive materials.”

Dazang said the commission would deploy its officers at National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners levels from neighbouring states to monitor the Bayelsa State election.

“You will agree with me that we don’t take any election for granted, no matter how small it is,” he said.