The Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) has fixed July 14, 2018 and Sept. 22, 2018 for governorship elections in
Ekiti and Osun States respectively.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Voter
Education and Publicity, Prince Solomon Soyebi, disclosed this while reading
the timetables and schedule of activities for the elections on Thursday in
Abuja.
Soyebi said that the tenure of Ekiti incumbent
governor would end on Oct 15, 2018 while that of Osun would end in November 28.
According to him, release of the dates is in
line with the requirements of the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the
Federal republic of Nigeria.
He said that in fixing the dates for the
elections, the Commission considered national festivals and public holidays,
going by its experience in the conduct of Edo governorship election.
“Anybody who deviates from the Electoral
guidelines by engaging in public campaign ahead of the date for commencement of
campaign is committing electoral offence and will be prosecuted.
“All political parties and their candidates
are hereby enjoined to cooperate with us,’’ Soyebi said.
According to timetables and schedules of
activities signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu, read
by Soyebi, the notice for Ekiti election will be released by INEC on April 4,
2018.
The commission also fixed April 15, 2018 for
the commencement of campaign by political parties, and April 16 for collection
of forms.
The conduct of party primaries, including
resolution of disputes arising from the primaries had been scheduled to hold
between April 15, 2018, and May 14, 2018, while last day for submission of
forms had been fixed for May 15, 2018.
“The commission will publish personal
particulars and list of candidates on May 22, 2018, and the last day for
withdrawal and replacement of candidates is May 30, 2018.
“The last day for the submission of nomination
forms by political parties is fixed for June 13, 2018.’’
It also fixed June 14, 2018 for the
publication of official register of voters and final list of nominated
candidates for the election, while notice of poll would be published on June
30, 2018.
For Osun state, the notice of election would
be issued on June 23, while campaign by political parties would commence on
June 24 and end on Sept. 20, 2018.
According to the timetable for Osun, the
collection of forms has been fixed for June 25, 2018 and last day for the
submission of forms for July 24, 2018.
The Commission also scheduled conduct of
primaries including resolution of disputes arising from primaries between June
24, 2018 and July 23, 2018.
It also fixed July 31, 2018 as date for the
publication of personal particulars and list of candidates and August 8, 2018
as last day for withdrawal by candidates or replacement by political parties.
According to the timetable, the publication of
official register of voters and final list of candidates for the election will
be displayed on Aug. 23, 2018.
It added that the publication of notice of
poll would be done on Sept. 8, 2018 and submission of names of party agents for
Sept. 8, 2018.
Source: dailytrust.com.ng
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