According to Yakubu, the senatorial election would now cost less than
N10 million instead of the N300 million, if conducted as a standalone
election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission says it has saved over
N290 million for combining the Kogi West Senatorial District and the
governorship elections to hold on November 16.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, stated this at the
commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in
Abuja, on Tuesday.
According to Yakubu, the senatorial election would now cost less than
N10 million instead of the N300 million, if conducted as a standalone
election.
He explained: "In the case of Kogi West, it is a whole senatorial
district that the election petitions tribunal and the Court of Appeal
had nullified the election conducted on February 23 and ordered INEC
to conduct a rerun.
"By coincidence, the judgment of the appeal court came very close to
the governorship election. So the commission decided to combine the
election with that of Kogi West Senatorial district.
"As a standalone election, the senatorial district election in seven
local government areas of the state would have cost the nation over
N300 million.
"We have to get ad hoc staff, make arrangements for transportation,
accreditation of observers and also the cost on the part of the
political parties and others."
The INEC chair added, "But because we are combining the election with
that of the governorship, it is going to cost the nation less than N10
million, instead of over N300 million.
"So, the commission decided to combine the two elections in order to
save cost and for convenience."
Yakubu also pointed out that the Brass I state constituency election,
holding in six polling units in Bayelsa, would also be conducted on
the same day with the governorship election.
He said INEC already made arrangements for the elections.
Yakubu appealed to political parties to advise their candidates and
supporters to shun hate speech, inciting statements, violent attacks
on opponents, destruction of electoral materials and other violations
of the Electoral Act.