The Independent National Electoral Commission has released dates for the conduct of the governorship elections in both Edo and Ondo states.
The commission said while the governorship election would hold on Saturday, September 10, 2016 in Edo State, it said the Ondo State governorship poll would take place on Saturday, November 26, 2016.
INEC’s Deputy Director in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Nick Dazang, said this in Abuja on Thursday.
In the timetable released by the commission on Thursday, Sunday, June 12 is earmarked for the commencement of campaigns by political parties in the Edo State governorship election.
It also said the conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the primaries, would take place between Thursday, June 2 and Monday, July 4.
The notice, as published in a Bulletin released by the commission, says, “The commission will publish the official Register of Voters for the Edo governorship election on Thursday, August 11. On the same day, it will publish the list of nominated candidates by political parties.”
The commission added that Sunday, August 28, had been scheduled for the commencement of campaigns by political parties in the Ondo governorship election.
It said the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from the primaries, must take place between Thursday, August 18 and September 19.
The commission stated that the publication of the official register of voters for the election would be displayed on Tuesday, October 27, while the publication of list of nominated candidates would be done the same day.
It states, “The run-off election to the office of the Governor (if any) will be held within seven days after the announcement of the result of the election, in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
Commenting on the conduct of the rerun in the country, Dazang said the exercises had been successful and peaceful except in Kogi Central and Imo State, where there were a few challenges.
He said, “The rerun we have had from January 27 have been peaceful except the challenge we had in Kogi; otherwise, generally it has been peaceful.
“Those of Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba and Niger states were peaceful. The only place we had challenges was Kogi Central — Adavi Local Government Area — where our office was burnt down before the election.
“In one of the wards in the same senatorial district, some hoodlums confiscated the result sheet and tore it.”
Dazang added that the commission was preparing to conduct the remaining elections in other states in a free, fair and credible manner.
“The major one will be that of Rivers on March 19, where we have three senatorial districts, one federal constituency and House of Assembly elections.
“Already the commission has identified electoral officers that are going to conduct the elections and they have reported in the state capital, Port-Harcourt, for training.’’
Meanwhile, the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has approved the conduct of congresses for the Edo State Chapter of the party.
In the schedule approved by the NWC, which was signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said Ward Congress in the state would hold on Saturday, March 5, while the Local Government Congress holds on Thursday, March 10.
It scheduled the State Congress for Monday, March 14, 2016.
Metuh said the congresses would be conducted by Congress Committees sent from the National Secretariat, Abuja, as the tenure of the state executive of the party had expired
Also, the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has demanded the sacking of officials of INEC before the rerun in the state scheduled for March 5.
A member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Ambassador Chief Sam Nkeire, who led a delegation of the state party officials to meet with the APC national leadership, said this in Abuja, on Thursday.
He explained that the party’s stakeholders in Abia State were of the view that the state INEC, as presently constituted, did not have the best interest of the people at heart.
Nkeire explained that if the conduct of the electoral body during the governorship election was anything to go by, the state chapter of the party was of the view that the desire of the people, to have a free and fair election, would not see the light of day.
He added, “So far, from experience, we have no confidence in INEC in Abia State. If INEC Abia State changes its ways, we shall come here and announce to you that there is a change. We are calling for the removal of the present officials of INEC in Abia State.”
Members of the delegation included Dr. Nyerere Anyim, Benedict Godson and the South-East Women Leader of the APC, Sally Chinebu, among others.
- The Punch