INEC Fixes Dates For Edo, Ondo Governorship Elections

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INEC BOSS

INEC Fixes Dates For Edo, Ondo Governorship Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo State.

The National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

According to him, INEC will conduct the Edo poll on Saturday, September 21, 2024, while that of Ondo will take place on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

The tenure of the governors of Edo and Ondo States will end on November 11, 2024 and February 23, 2025, respectively.

In Edo, political parties would conduct primaries between February 1 and 24, 2024, while the exercise would hold between April 6 and April 27 in Ondo.

Olumekun said: “As provided in 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 the election to the office of Governor, Edo State is October 12, 2024, while that of Ondo State is January 24, 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 Governorship election will hold on Saturday, September 21, 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 March 4, 2024 and close at 6.00pm on March 24, 2024.

“The final list of candidates will be published on April 23, 2024 while campaign in public by political parties commences on April 24, 2024 and ends 24 hours prior to election day on 19th September 2024.

“For Ondo, the 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 April 29, 2024 and close at 6.00pm on May, 20 2024.

“The final list of candidates will be published on June, 18, 2024 while campaign in public by political parties commences on June 19, 2024 and ends 24 hours prior to election day on November, 14, 2024.

“The 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.”