The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi governorship elections.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye, on Tuesday.
INEC revealed that the governorship elections for these three states will be held on November 11, 2023.
According to the commission, this decision is in fulfilment of the requirement of Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to publish the Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the date fixed for the elections. Similarly, Sections 178(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 mandate the Commission to conduct such elections not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of the last holder of the office.
The tenure of the incumbent governor of Imo State ends on January 14, 2024, while those of Kogi and Bayelsa states end on January 26, 2024, and February 13, 2024, respectively.
The statement read in part, “Accordingly, the Commission has decided to conduct the three elections on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
“The statutory Notice for the elections will be published in the three States on November 14, 2022. Party primaries will be held from March 27 to April 17, 2023, while the online portal for the submission of nomination forms (EC9 and EC9B) by political parties opens at 9 am on April 24, 2023, and closes at 6 pm on May 5, 2023.
