Posted by Attorney for Human Rights Pius Danba is concerned that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is taking too long to hold a bye poll in the Taraba State federal constituency of Jalingo/Yorro/Zing.
The man felt that this was a long-overdue practice.
On Tuesday, Danba made his stance clear in a letter to the INEC Chairman, claiming that the commission had broken the law by allowing the election for a replacement to take more than 30 days.
Since the untimely passing of February 25 election winner Ismaila Yushau Mohammed, the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency seat has been unfilled, according to DAILY POST.
It may interest you to know that from the 22nd of April, 2023, to the 13th of June, 2023, is 52 days,” he remarked, perplexed as to why INEC has been so slow.
There has been no representative for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives since the 13th of June, 2023, when Ismaila Yushau Mohammed passed away.
According to Article 76 (1) (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), “the people of Jalingo/Yorro/Zing are not represented at all for more than 118 days and counting.”
According to him, the Electoral Act of 2022 only allows for a 21-day grace period following a candidate’s death (Section 34 (3) (b)).
The eminent lawyer said the Commission made a mistake by prioritizing the governorship races in Bayelsa and Kogi.
When asked about the importance of the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency election, he stated, “it appears that your commission does not consider the election of Jalingo/Yorro/Zing to be an equally important constitutional activity at all.”