National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye
INEC to begin issuing certificates to elected governors, deputies, state legislators from Wednesday
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed days from Wednesday, March 29 through to Friday of March 29, for issuance of Certificates of Return (CoRs) to elected state governors and their deputies, and also, state Houses of Assembly members-elect.
According to INEC, the development is a fallout of its meeting held, Saturday, in Abuja, where management deliberated ‘on a wide range of issues including the issuance of Certificates of Return to those elected during the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections conducted by the commission on Saturday, March 18.’
A statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, Saturday, explained that the certificates will be presented to the winners across the country by the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in each state.
INEC further explained that the decision to issue the certificate is in accordance with the provisions of Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, where the commission ‘is mandated to issue a certificate of return within 14 days to every candidate who has been returned elected under the law.’
“The commission met today, Saturday, 23rd March and deliberated on a wide range of issues including the issuance of Certificates of Return to those elected during the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections conducted by the commission on 18th March 2023.
“By the provisions of Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission is mandated to issue a certificate of return within 14 days to every candidate who has been returned elected under the law.
“Pursuant to the above provision, the Commission has fixed Wednesday 29th, Thursday 30th and Friday 31st March 2023 for the issuance of certificates of return to Governors, Deputy Governors, as well as, State Assembly members-elect. The presentation will take place in INEC offices in each state of the federation.
“Specific dates for the issuance of the certificates shall be communicated to those elected by the Resident Electoral Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries of various states,” read the statement.
