The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed September 19 and October 10 as the date for the governorship election in Edo and Ondo States respectively. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who made the announcement at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, said the tenure of the governor of Edo would end on November 12, 2020, while that of his Ondo counterpart will end on February 24, 2021.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Section 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 25(8) of the Electoral Act 2010, elections cannot hold earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of an incumbent governor. Accordingly, the Commission has fixed Saturday Sept. 19 as the date for the Governorship Election in Edo and Saturday Oct. 10, for Ondo State. “Detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the two elections will be published on our website and social media platforms shortly,” Yakubu said.
Yakubu, however, reiterated the resolve of INEC to stand firm against acts capable of disrupting the election. “As we are all aware, election is a process. However, the process does not begin and end with Election Day activities. The conduct of party primaries, nomination of candidates, electioneering campaigns and the submission of the list of polling agents are also essential to the electoral process. Above all, good behavior by all officials and actors involved is crucial for success,” he said.
Yakubu warned all parties and candidates against acts that could constitute violence during party primaries and electioneering campaigns. He further warned that snatching of election materials or deployment of thugs against INEC officials, observers, the media and unarmed security personnel at polling units were acts punishable under our electoral laws.
“Already, the political atmosphere in a particular state is charged. No one should regard the release of the timetable for the election as a signal to further escalate tension or a call to commence the recruitment of thugs and arming of thugs and hoodlums,” he said.
In another development, the INEC boss said the electoral umpire would be conducting bye-election in three constituencies as a result of the deaths of some serving members of the National and State Houses of Assembly.
“The Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives has declared vacancy in Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency of Niger State. Similarly, the Honourable Speaker of the Kwara House of Assembly has declared a vacancy in Patigi State Constituency, while the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly has also declared the Kebbe State Constituency vacant. The bye-election will hold simultaneously in the three States of the Federation on Saturday March 14. Again, the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities will be published on our website and social media platforms shortly.”
Yakubu also announced that INEC has deregistered 74 political parties from participating in subsequent elections for failing to meet constitutional requirements that determine the continuous existence of political parties in Nigeria. INEC said the deregistered parties breached their requirements for registration because they failed to win at least 2596 of votes cast in one State of the federation during the Presidential election.
INEC also said the parties, since their existence, did not win one local government of a state in a governorship election. The deregistered parties, according to INEC also failed to win at least one ward in the chairmanship elections in local governments. Some also failed to win one seat in the National or State House of Assembly election or one seat In a Councillorshlp election since they were registered.
Section 225A of Nigeria’s constitution empowers INEC to register and deregister political parties in the country. Before deregistration of the 74 parties, Nigeria had 90 political parties qualified to contest elections. With the deregistration, Nigeria’s political parties have been reduced to 16.
