INEC releases schedule for off-season Ondo, Edo governorship elections
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed December, next year to conduct the next round of its off-season elections in the country for governorship election in Edo, Ondo states, after the November 2023 governorship polls in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states to elect new governors.
The tenure of state governors in the two states of Ondo and Edo terminates November 11, 2024 and February 23, 2025 respectively.
Disclosing this, Tuesday, INEC’s National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Sam Olumekun, noted that according to ‘Section 178 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), election into the said offices shall hold not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the tenure of` the last holder of the office.’ “The latest date for Election to the office of Governor, Edo State, is 12th October 2024 while that of Ondo State is 24th January 2025.
“Similarly, Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 requires the Commission to publish Notice for the Election not later than 360 days before the date of the election.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, the Commission issues the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Edo and Ondo State Governorship elections as follows:
“The Edo Governorship election will hold on Saturday 21st September 2024.
“Party primaries will hold from 1st – 24th February 2024 while the submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal will start at 9.00am on 4th March 2024 and close at 6.00pm on 24th March 2024.
“The final list of candidates will be published on 23rd April 2024 while campaign in public by political parties commences on 24th April 2024 and ends 24 hours prior to election day on 19th September 2024.
For Ondo state, INEC said governorship election will hold on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
“Party primaries will hold from 6th – 27th April 2024 while the submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal will start at 9.00am on 29th April 2024 and close at 6.00pm on 20th May 2024.
“The final list of candidates will be published on 18th June 2024 while campaign in public by political parties commences on 19th June 2024 and ends 24 hours prior to election day on 14th November 2024,” the statement read.
Continuing, INEC disclosed that ‘detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the two elections have been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms.’
“By this ample notice as required by both the Constitution and the Electoral Act, the Commission appeals to political parties and candidates to note the activities in the Timetable for strict compliance,’ it said.
