INEC announces plans for Bayelsa, Kogi governorship elections

- INEC has released time table for the activities of both Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections

- The commission said that primaries in both states will run from Sunday, August 18, to Thursday, September 5

- The electoral body also said that there must be strict adherence to the election guidelines by all the parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced its plans for the forthcoming Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections.

The elections will hold on the same day in the two states on Saturday, November 16, Premium Times reports.

The INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday, July 1, said the commission has released time table for the activities of the elections.

The chairman said the party primaries will hold from Sunday, August 18, to Thursday, September 5.

“The conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates must be transparent and democratic in accordance with the provisions of sec 87 of the Electoral Act as well as our regulations and guidelines,” he said.

The chairman also said that commission expects total compliance by all parties that will be nominating candidates for the elections, adding that any elections done outside the deadlines will not be accepted.

Yakubu also said that only three political parties have given notices indicating the dates for their primaries in both Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections.

He said: “The Commission once again reminds party leaders to do the needful. In doing so, you should indicate not only the dates but also venues and time for the primaries.

“I urge you to avoid persistent rescheduling of your primaries or late minute change of venue which sometimes disenfranchise your members and make effective monitoring by the commission difficult.

"Where political parties opt for direct primaries, there should be proper register of members otherwise it will amount to conducting an election without the voters’ register.”

The chairman of the electoral body said only one political party has submitted its financial report.