By-election: Youth party adopts E-voting, fixes January 7 for primaries

The Youth Party has adopted the e-voting method for conduct of its forthcoming primaries for the by-elections slated for February 3, 2024. According to the party, a fail-proof system has been put in place to ensure that there would be no systems failure on the day of the election.

The statement added that interested aspirants between the age of 25 to 40; female aspirants; and, Persons With Disabilities (PWD) would be allowed to pay 50 per cent of the prescribed nomination fee.

In a timetable and schedule of activities issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ayodele Adio, the party also fixed December 27, 2023 to January 4, 2024, for the sales of nomination and expression of interest forms.

The party stated that voting would be carried out online and by Short Message Service (SMS), and would be monitored by candidates and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

By-elections would be conducted into Ebonyi South Senatorial District of Ebonyi State; Yobe East Senatorial District of Yobe State; Plateau North Senatorial District of Plateau State; and Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State.

Others are Jalingo/Zorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State; Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State; Yauri/Shanga/Ngaski Federal Constituency of Kebbi State; Chibok State Constituency of Borno State; Chikun State Constituency of Kaduna State; and Guma State Constituency of Benue State.

The timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of the bye elections is in compliance with the Electoral Act (2010) (as amended) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guideline.

According to the timetable, the screening of aspirants would also hold on January 5, 2024, while appeal for party primaries would hold on January 8, 2024.

The party, however, pegged its cost of expression of interest form for senate at N1,500,000 and nomination form at N8,500,000, while expression of interest form for the House of Representatives is N500,000 and N4,500,000 for nomination form respectively. For the house of assembly, the party pegged cost of expression of interest form, and nomination form at N250,000, and N750,000 respectively.