It is no longer news t bhat 2023 General Elections (Presidential, National Assembly and Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections) is scheduled to hold on February 25th and March 11th 2023 respectively.
The Gubernatorial elections scheduled by INEC for 11th March 2023 excludes Kogi, Adamawa, Sokoto, Ekiti, Cross Rivers and Bayelsa States, which States have experienced off season or off circle Gubernatorial elections since the Supreme Court decision on the Tenure Elongation case in 2012.
Ever since the said case, Gubernatorial elections in Kogi State has been in November of the election year, as such in 2019, Gubernatorial Election in Kogi State was held in November 2019.
It follows that the forthcoming Gubernatorial elections in Kogi State is scheduled for November 2023 since tenure would end in January 2024.
However by virtue of section 29(1) Electoral Act 2022(as amended) political parties are mandated to hold Primaries and Submit the list of Candidates to INEC not later than 180days before the appointed day for Primary Election ( under the 2010 Act, it was 60days before Election).
Also, Section 94 Electoral Act provides that campaign shall commence 150days before polling day and end 24 hours before Election.
Rumour has it that the Independent National Electoral Commission is planning to schedule the 2023 Gubernatorial Elections for November 2023 and as such, is likely or planning to mandate Political parties to conduct Gubernatorial Primary elections in Kogi State in February 2023 culminating in the same time with the General Elections, where aspirants in Kogi State will be standing for elections. This will affect preparation for elections and unnecessarily heat up the polity in the State as Kogites prepare for General Elections Presidential, National Assembly and State Assembly and still prepare for the Primary of their off season elections in 2023 February.
This is absolutely unnecessary and would unnecessarily heat up the polity in the State. Especially that INEC can schedule Gubernatorial Primaries in Kogi State for March or April 2022 which is a clear 180 days(6 months), before general election.
I therefore join my voices with that of all political actors in Kogi State to call on INEC to rethink their earlier plan to fix Kogi State Gubernatorial Primaries for February 2023. Scheduling the Gubernatorial Primaries to March or April 2023 will permit compliance with Section 29(1) Electoral Act 2022
Hon. Sunday Karimi, Kogi West Senatorial District APC Candidate