Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi governorship elections will take place on November 11, 2023, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi governorship elections will take place on November 11, 2023, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said this on Tuesday night.
He claims that the commission approved the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the governorship elections in the states of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi during its weekly meeting on Tuesday, October 22, 2022.
According to him, the decision complies with Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act of 2022, which requires the commission to publish the Notice of Election no later than 360 days prior to the election date.
Similar to this, Sections 178(1) and (2) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution require the commission to hold the elections no earlier than 150 days and no later than 30 days prior to the last officeholder’s tenure expiring.
“The current governor of Imo State will serve until January 14, 2024, while the governors of Kogi and Beyelsa States will serve until January 26, 2024, and February 13, 2024, respectively.
Therefore, the Commission has agreed to hold the three elections on November 11, 2023, according to Okoye.
He further stated that on November 14, 2022, the three states will publish the required election notice.
Party primaries will take place between March 27 and April 17, 2023, according to Okoye.
The online portal for political parties to submit nomination forms (EC9 and EC9B) opens on April 24, 2023, at 9.00 am, and closes on May 5, 2023, at 6:00 pm.
“The final list of candidates will be published on June 9, 2023, and political party campaigns will start on June 14, 2023, and end at midnight on November 9, 2023,” he stated.
