The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Saturday, 2nd November 2019 as the date for the off-cycle Governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States. It will be the first time that two off cycle Governorship elections are holding on the same date. Four years ago, the Kogi Governorship election held on 21st November 2015 while Bayelsa’s held on 5th December 2015. It would appear however that the Governors to be elected from these Governorship elections will be sworn in on different dates: Kogi on 26th January 2020 and Bayelsa on 13th February 2020.
In a statement, INEC announced a timetable for the elections as follows:
- Notice of election- Ist August 2019
- Collection of Forms CF001 and CF002 for the election by Political Parties at INEC Headquarters- 2nd August 2019
- Conduct of Party Primaries including resolution of disputes arising from the Primaries- 2nd to 29th August 2019
- Commencement of Campaign by Political Parties in public- 2nd August 2019
- Last day for submission of Forms CF001 and CF002 at the INEC Headquarters- 3rd September 2019
- Publication of Personal Particulars of Candidates (CF001) and List of Candidates- 10th September 2019
- Publication of Final List of Nominated Candidates- 3rd October 2019
- Publication of Notice of Poll- 19th October 2019
- Last dat fro submission of names of Party Agents for the Election to the Resident electoral Commissioner (REC)- 19th October 2019
- Last day for Campaigns- 31st October 2019
- Date of election- 2nd November 2019
Kogi and Bayelsa States are among 7 States with off-cycle Governorship elections. Kogi State has Governor Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who could seek re-election for a second term. The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is set to complete a second term and will not be eligible for re-election. The two Governorship elections will be the first major elections to be conducted since the February/March 2019 General elections.