The Independent National Electoral Commission on Friday said party primaries for the governorship election and nomination of candidates in Edo and Ondo States have been fixed between June 2 – 27 and July 2 – 25 2020 respectively.

The governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States had been scheduled for September 19, 2020, and October 10, 2020, respectively and the commission said it had commenced reviewing of the deployment of security operative.

The chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who stated these in Abuja during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners, informed that already, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security has set up a committee about the review.

He also confirmed the receipt of two letters from the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, declaring vacant the seats for Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa East Senatorial Districts.

The vacancy was sequel the declaration of Bayelsa State governor, Douyle Diri and his Deputy, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo winners of the governorship election held on November 16, 2019, by the Supreme Court.

The INEC chairman said:

“I wish to draw the attention of political parties to two critical dates in the timetable released by the commission a few weeks ago. Party primaries for the democratic election and nomination of candidates for the governorship election in Edo State must be held from June 2 to 27 2020. The date for Ondo State is July 2 to 25 2020. The commission will not extend the dates. We will also rigorously monitor the primaries and where necessary, apply sanctions as provided by law.

“At the same time, the personal particulars of all the candidates nominated by political parties for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, including their academic qualifications, will be displayed in our offices in the two States as required by law.

“This will enable citizens to scrutinise them and take legal action against any candidate who provides false information to the commission. The personal particulars of candidates will be displayed on July 6, 2020, in Edo State and on August 4, 2020, in Ondo State. I wish to appeal to citizens to note the dates and to seize the opportunity to scrutinise the information provided on oath by the candidates in the interest of our democracy and good governance.”

He acknowledged the receipt of two letters from Senate declaring vacant two Senatorial seats in Bayelsa State.

Mahmood said, “In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, the commission has presented Certificates of Return in respect of the governorship elections in Imo and Bayelsa States. In the case of Bayelsa State, both the governor and Deputy governor were serving Senators.

“Consequently, the commission on Thursday, February 20, 2020, received two communications from the Senate President declaring the seats for Bayelsa Central and Bayelsa East Senatorial Districts vacant. The commission will soon meet to determine the dates for by-elections in the two Senatorial Districts.”

He warned politicians in Edo and Ondo States to “do more to avoid the conduct of acrimonious primaries or failure to observe due diligence in the screening of their candidates.”

According to him, such controversial primaries had resulted in protracted litigations and eventual determination of the outcome of elections by orders of court.

Mahmood said, “For our part, the commission has been studying the judgements of courts arising from the conduct of recent elections. We have also been reviewing the reports from accredited observers as well as internal reports from our State offices. We will continue to keep an eye on the conduct of our officials and apply appropriate sanctions on erring staff, both regular and ad-hoc.

“Ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, critical changes will be introduced to strengthen our processes and procedures. Similarly, the commission, jointly with the security agencies, is reviewing deployment during elections.

“Already, ICCES has set up a committee in this respect. The inaugural meeting of the committee is holding on Wednesday next week.”

He challenged RECs to know that the major responsibility of INEC remained the conduct of elections which must be free, fair and credible.

“The reality in Nigeria today is that elections have become an all-year-round activity for the commission. This year alone, the commission has conducted elections into 28 constituencies by court order. Four by-elections will be held in the next three weeks and, as I said earlier, vacancies were declared in two Senatorial Districts.

“We are also awaiting declarations of vacancies for two more Senatorial Districts. While we are conducting these elections, we must also continue to proactively and progressively work for the improvement of the electoral process,” Mahmood stated.

He also stated that the commission had released the timetable and schedule of activities for bye-elections to fill vacancies in Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency in Niger State, Babura/Garki Federal Constituency in Jigawa State, Patigi State Constituency in Kwara State and Kebbe State Constituency in Sokoto State.

“Going by the timetable, the period for the conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates has lapsed. Four political parties have nominated candidates for the Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency, three parties for Babura/Garki Federal Constituency, six parties for Patigi State Constituency and seven parties for Kebbe State Constituency. The elections are scheduled to hold simultaneously in the four states on Saturday, March 14 2020,” he stressed.