INEC releases timetable for Edo, Ondo gov elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Abuja on Tuesday released the timetable for governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states scheduled for 2024.

The Commission releasing the timetable and schedule of activities for governorship elections in the two states, announced that the governorship election will hold on September 21, 2024 in Edo State and November 16, 2024 in Ondo State.

The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, who signed the timetable, stated that the party primaries for the Edo governorship election will be held from February 1 to February 24, 2024.

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According to the INEC National Commissioner, “The submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal will start at 9a.m. on March 4, 2024 and close at 6p.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 Sept. 19, 2024.”

Olumekun also highlighted that that party primaries for the governorship election in Ondo State would hold from April 6 to April 27, 2024.

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The National Commissioner stated that the submission of the list of nominated candidates via the online portal would start at 9a.m. on April 29, 2024 and close at 6p.m. on May 20, 2024.

According to him, “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 Nov. 14, 2024.”

Olumekun maintained that the timetable and schedule of activities for the two states’ governorship elections was issued by INEC in the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
He noted that the tenure of the governors of Edo would end on November 11, 2024, while and Ondo would end on February 23, 2025.

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Olumekun declared: “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 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.”

Olumekun said that a detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the two states elections had 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,” he stated.

NAN