INEC releases dates for Ekiti, Osun governorship elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has slated July 14 and September 22, both in 2018, as dates for Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections respectively.

The commission’s national commissioner, Solomon Soyebi, who stated this on Thursday, further disclosed that commencement date of campaigns for Ekiti governorship election will be April 15, 2018, while that of Osun will be June 24, 2018.

This development came just as INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, a day earlier revealed that the commission will soon register more political parties.

“As I speak with you, the Commission has over 108 political associations seeking fresh registration. We want to assure all the associations that the Commission will register those that met the legal requirements. They should take that for granted on the Commission,” Yakubu said.

INEC decision to register additional political parties is despite the disclosure of its chairman that 18 out of the 46 existing parties’ have violated the constitution by failing to constitute their National Executive Committee (NEC) as required by the law.

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“I want to draw your attention to the certain issues. The constitution is very clear on the processes and conditions for registration that must be complied with, Section 223 of the constitution talks about the validity of the composition of the political parties NEC.

“Unfortunately, out of the 46 registered political parties, only 28 parties are in compliance, 18 political parties have not complied”, he had said.

Yakubu had also lamented the refusal of some political parties to have functional offices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as stipulated in Section 222 of the constitution.

 

 

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