INEC gives 18 parties deadline to present candidate in Ondo

The Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, announced that it would shortly resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) process in both states in order to enable eligible voters to cast ballots in the upcoming governorship elections in the states of Edo and Ondo in September and November. 

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, revealed this information to political parties yesterday during the second regular quarterly consultative meeting in Abuja. 

According to him, the Commission released the final list of candidates for the Edo State gubernatorial election after the party primaries ended and the deadline for withdrawals and candidate substitutions, as specified in the election's schedule and timetable, passed.

He claims that public political party campaigns began on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, and will conclude at midnight on Thursday, September 19, 2024, or 24 hours ahead of the legally designated election day.

Reminding party leaders the need to continue to maintain law and order during the electioneering process and beyond, he said: “As we inch closer to Election Day in Edo State, it is also imperative to remind political parties of the need to adhere strictly to the timeline for the upload of the list of polling and collation agents to the dedicated portal. Doing so will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the identity cards in good time for the expected 76,823 Polling Unit agents and 3,587 Ward, Local Government and State collation agents for the 17 political parties participating in the election.”

For Ondo State, he said 18 political parties had concluded their primaries, which the INEC monitored, adding: “I wish to remind you that parties have one week to the deadline for the nomination of candidates which is 6pm on Monday May 20 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down.

“I urge you to adhere strictly to the deadline. Political parties have been given 23 days (over three weeks) from the end of primaries to prepare and submit the list of only two candidates (Governorship candidate and running mate) to the Commission. There will be no extension of time.”

“As the elections in the two states approach, the Commission has decided to resume the Continuous Voter Registration in the two states to enable eligible citizens who are not registered voters to do so.

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