By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed June 18, 2022 for Ekiti Governorship election and July 16, 2022 for that of Osun State.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at the Commission’s meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Abuja.
Yakubu said that commencement date of campaigns and other detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the two elections were uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.
He added: “In the sequence of off-season elections, the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections are holding next year.
“In keeping with our policy of announcing the dates of elections in advance to enable early and effective preparations by all concerned, the Commission has approved that the Ekiti State Governorship election will hold on Saturday June 18 2022.
“The Osun State Governorship election will hold one month later on Saturday July 16, 2022.
“We implore political parties and aspirants to ensure rancour-free primaries and, thereafter, conduct peaceful electioneering campaigns,” he said.
According to the timetable and schedule of activities for the two elections, INEC notice for Ekiti State governorship election would be released on Jan. 3, 2022.
Conduct of primaries for the state election will take place between Jan. 4, to Jan. 29, 2022, while campaigns by political parties would begin by March 20, 2022 and end on June 16, 2022.
The final list of candidates for the election will be released on May 19, 2022.
For Osun State, the notice of election would be issued on Feb. 15, 2022, while primaries and resolutions of disputes arising from the exercise are scheduled to hold from Feb. 16, 2022 to March 12, 2022.
Campaign by political parties is expected to start from April 17, 2022 and end on July 14, 2022.
Yakubu stated that April 8, 2022 has been scheduled as the last day for withdrawal/replacement of candidates by political parties, and June 16, 2022, for publication of final candidates for Osun Governorship election.
The INEC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission was preparing to conduct the remaining off-season end of tenure elections ahead of the 2023 General Election.
He also informed that already activities listed in the timetable for the Anambra State Governorship election were being implemented, alongside “those of the FCT Area Council elections holding on Feb. 12, 2022.”