The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the Edo governorship election for September 21, 2024, and the Ondo State election for November 16, 2024. This announcement was made in Abuja as part of the timetable and sequence of activities for these state governorship races.

Sam Olamekun, INEC National Commissioner and the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, confirmed the dates. He detailed that for the Edo election, party primaries would run from February 1-24, 2024. Parties will then have from 9 a.m. on March 4 to 6 p.m. on March 24, 2024, to submit their list of nominated candidates online. The finalized candidate list will be available on April 23, 2024. From April 24, 2024, parties can begin their public campaigns, which will halt 24 hours before the election, on September 19, 2024.

As for the Ondo State election, Olumekun noted that the party primaries would span from April 6-27, 2024. The nomination submission period starts at 9 a.m. on April 29 and concludes at 6 p.m. on May 20, 2024. The final candidate list will be posted on June 18, 2024. Public campaigning by political factions will commence on June 19, 2024, and cease 24 hours before the election date, on November 14, 2024.

The Commissioner emphasized that INEC established the timetable and activity sequence based on its constitutional and legal mandates. Specifically, the terms of the current governors of Edo and Ondo will conclude on November 11, 2024, and February 23, 2025, respectively.

Citing Section 178 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended), Olumekun stated that elections should occur no earlier than 150 days but not more than 30 days before the current governor’s term ends. Consequently, the latest possible election date for Edo is October 12, 2024, and for Ondo is January 24, 2025. Additionally, the 2022 Electoral Act’s Section 28(1) mandates INEC to publicize the election notice at least 360 days prior to the polling date.

Olumekun concluded by announcing that a comprehensive timetable and schedule for the two state elections are now accessible on INEC’s official website and social media channels. He urged political entities and their candidates to adhere to the outlined timetable rigorously.

SOURCE: The Sun