The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed that the Edo governorship election is scheduled for September 21, 2024, with the Ondo state election set for November 16, 2024.
INEC clarified that the announcement is made in accordance with the guidelines laid out in Section 178 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). This section mandates that elections for these positions must take place no earlier than 150 days and no later than 30 days before the conclusion of the previous officeholder’s term.
Correspondingly, Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 necessitates that the Commission issues an Election Notice within a timeframe of 360 days before the election date.
Additionally, the commission went on to state that it intends to publish and circulate election particulars through the INEC website and its array of social media outlets.
As stated in an official release signed by Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the mandates of the Edo and Ondo state governors will conclude 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.’
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‘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.’