The electoral umpire of Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), closed the nomination of applicants in the November 16 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States by political parties.
In a statement by its National Commissioner in Charge of Information and Voter Education Committee on Thursday, Festus Okoye, INEC reminded the parties that September 5, 2019 was the last day for party primaries to be conducted, while September 9 is the last day for nominated candidates to be submitted.
Mr Okoye said the media center of the commission would be open to receiving the list of nominated applicants on or before Monday at its headquarters in Abuja.
“Political parties that conducted party primaries shall submit to the commission on or before September 8, 2019, the name of their liaison officers and who must be introduced through a letter jointly signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party.
“The Commission shall publish the names and votes scored by all the candidates that participated in the primaries monitored by our officials in the two states.
“We enjoin all the political parties participating in the election to strictly comply with the timelines earlier released by the commission and will not entertain any late submission under any circumstances,” Mr Okoye said.
The committee had published the updated schedule and schedule of election operations on May 16 this year.
On November 16, the elections will be held concurrently in the two states.
The two major political parties, the APC and the PDP, concluded the process of producing candidates for the elections on Wednesday.
The incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello remained as the candidate for the APC in Kogi State, while Musa Wada, a younger brother to the immediate past governor, emerged as the candidate for the PDP.
Senator Diri Duoye emerged as the candidate for the PDP in Bayelsa State, while David Lyon emerged as the candidate for the APC.
