INEC announces dates for Ekiti, Osun governorship elections, deploys 6,200 card readers for Anambra

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday fixed July 14 and September 22, 2018 for the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.Briefing newsmen in Abuja, the National Commissioner, Prince Solomon Soyebi, said the tenure of the incumbents elapse on October 15 and November 26 next year.

He noted that the dates were in fulfillment of sections 178(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution as well as 25(7) and (8) of the Electoral Act, 2010.Soyebi gave April 4, 2018 as date for notice of election while campaigns commence the 15th of same month.

Furthermore, conduct of primaries by parties and resolution of disputes have been scheduled for April 15 to May 14, 2018 while the last day for the submission of forms CF001 and CF002 is May 15.

Meanwhile, it has deployed 6,200 card readers for next month’s gubernatorial contest in Anambra State.The Director, Voter Education and Publicity in the commission, Oluwole Uzzi, who made the disclosure yesterday at a voter education providers’ implementation meeting in Awka, pledged that only functioning machines would be used at the November 18 exercise.

He maintained that the commission had recorded high-level successes in the use of the facilities since their introduction in previous elections.Uzzi said that the commission had been exploring necessary measures to educate eligible voters on the importance of exercising their franchise.

He sought for orderliness before, during and after the polls.The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji, stressed the importance of voter education in the entire process.