The tenure of Ondo state governor Olusegun Mimiko expires on February 23, 2017.
The information contained in a letter written by Augusta Ogakwu, the secretery of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to the office of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state.
She also provided a timetable guiding the conduct of the forthcoming governorship poll in Ondo state, emphasising that the set date was consistent with laws set forth in the Constitution.
Ms. Ogakwu’s letter reads in part: “The tenure of the governor of Ondo State will expire on February 23rd, 2017. By virtue of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, gubernatorial elections shall be held not earlier than one hundred and fifty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder.”
It means that the earliest possible date for the election into the governor’s office shall be September 26, 2016 and the latest date for the election — January 24, 2017. INEC will notify the public of the election date no later than 90 days before its start.
Segun Agbaje, the Ondo state REC, said: “We are now preparing for the governorship election in Ondo State. The commission shall issue notice for the poll by the 26th of August, 2016, while political campaigns and activities will commence proper. The campaigns would commence on the 28th of August 2016 and end by the 24th of November 2016, which is 48 hours before the main governorship poll, which will be held on the 26th of November, 2016.”
According to Mr Agbaje, the political parties planning to take part in the elections are expected to visit the commission’s headquarters to file the forms between the August 22 – 26, 2016. Whereupon they would be authorized to conduct their primary elections between August 18 – September 19, 2016.
The names of each party’s gubernatorial candidates will be announced on October 27, 2016. The Ondo state governorship election is to be held on November 26, 2016.
