The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has fixed November 11, 2023 for the Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States’ Governorship elections.
The decision, which was reached at the Commission’s weekly meeting on Tuesday is in fulfillment of requirement of Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The Act mandates the Commission to publish the Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the date fixed for the elections.
In a statement, by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the Commission said the tenure of the incumbent Governor of Imo State ends on January 14, 2024 while those of Kogi and Bayelsa States will end January 26, 2024 and February 13, 2024 respectively.
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While stating that the statutory notice for the elections will be published in the three states on November 14, 2022, the statement noted that party primaries for nomination of candidates will be held from March 27 to April 23, immediately 2023 while the online portal for the submission of nomination forms (EC9 and EC9B) by political parties opens at 9.00am on April 24, 2023 and closes at 6.00pm on May 5, 2023.
The final list of candidates is scheduled to be published on June 9, 2023 while campaign by political parties commences on June 14, 2023 and ends at midnight on November 9, 2023.
The Commission however noted that the full Timetable and Schedule of Activities have been uploaded to its website and social media platforms.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
