The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed it will include Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidates in Saturday’s by-elections, following a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja. The court had ordered INEC to recognize the party and its candidates after they challenged their initial exclusion from contests across 12 states.
According to Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the party’s candidates have now been accepted and published on the commission’s website. Olumekun emphasized that the last-minute inclusion will not disrupt the scheduled elections on Saturday, August 16, and assured voters that the process will proceed smoothly.
The by-elections span two senatorial districts in Anambra and Edo States, five federal constituencies across Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo States, and nine state constituencies in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara States. In addition, court-mandated rerun elections in Enugu South I and Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituencies will be held concurrently.
While complying with the court’s decision, INEC noted it reserves the legal right to appeal the judgment.
