By Seyi Babalola
The Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, has set a deadline of May 20, 2024 for political parties contesting the next Ondo State gubernatorial election to submit names of their candidates.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, said this on Monday at a consultative meeting with political party leaders ahead of the 2024 governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states.
Yakubu added that parties were required to confirm and submit their candidates’ names by May 20, and that there would be no extensions.
This, according to him, is when the portal for candidates in the forthcoming Ondo governorship election will close.
The INEC boss said: “Turning to Ondo State, political parties have just concluded their primaries. Eighteen (18) political parties conducted primaries monitored by the Commission. I wish to remind you that parties have one week to the deadline for the nomination of candidates which is 6.00pm on Monday 20th May 2024 when the portal automatically shuts down. I urge you to adhere strictly to the deadline. Political parties have been given 23 days (over three weeks) from the end of primaries to prepare and submit the list of only two candidates (Governorship candidate and running mate) to the Commission. There will be no extension of time.”
