INEC Fixes Dates For Edo, Ondo Governorship Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced that the Edo State governorship election will be held on September 21, 2024, while that of Ondo state will be held on November 16, 2024.

This is contained in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Tuesday,

INEC noted that the declaration is in pursuance of the provisions of Section 178 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) states that election into the said offices shall be held not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the tenure of the last holder of the office.

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.

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The commission further said that details of the elections would be published and made public both on the INEC website and across its social media platforms.

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

The statement read in part, “The latest date for Election to the office of Governor, Edo State, is October 12, 2024, while that of Ondo State is January 24, 2025.

“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, September 21, 2024.

“Party primaries will hold from February 1-24, 2024 while the submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal will start at 9.00 a.m. on March 4, 2024, and close at 6.00 p.m. on March 24, 2024.

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

For Ondo state, the commission added “The governorship election will hold on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

“Party primaries will hold from April 6-27, 2024 while the submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal will start at 9.00 am on April 29, 2024, and close at 6.00 pm on May 20, 2024.

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

• Sodiq Lawal