INEC shifts Bayelsa, Kogi gov’ship polls by 2 weeks

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the Kogi and Bayelsa states governorship elections by two weeks.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said in a statement yesterday that the two elections earlier scheduled for November 2, had been moved to Saturday, November 16, 2019.

Daily Trust reports that the commission, on April 9, released a timetable for the two off-cycle elections.

“The commission has received several appeals from the government, state assembly, elders, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders in Bayelsa State, that the election date coincides with the state’s annual Thanksgiving Day which is backed by the Bayelsa State Thanksgiving Day Law 2012.

“After a careful consideration of the appeals, the commission at its regular weekly meeting held today, Thursday, 16 May, decided to shift the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states to Saturday, 16 November 2019,” Okoye said.

He said the timeline for other activities had also been adjusted to align with the new date.

Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, had on Tuesday, urged INEC to reschedule the November 2, election in the state.