Sequel to the change of date for the Local Government Elections, the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) has released the amended timetable for the polls scheduled to hold on Saturday, May 06, 2023.
The electoral body, had yesterday, moved the local council polls from Thursday, January 19, 2023 to Saturday, May 06, 2023, over fear of threat to peace and security due to the apprehension that many electorates will be disenfranchised if the Commission is unable to get an updated Voters Register from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement on Friday, the Administrative Secretary, EDSIEC, Sunday A. Osayande, noted that the primaries which were conducted by political parties and monitored by EDSIEC before the shift of the date earlier fixed for the election remain valid.
According to him, “The End of political parties primaries will be on Thursday 16th March, while collection and submission of forms by political parties/submission of list of party candidates will be from Thursday 16th March to Thursday 30th of March, 2023.”
He noted that publication of names of candidates will be on Thursday 6th April, 2023, while electioneering campaign will commence on Friday 7th April, 2023, adding that “the submission of names of changed/substituted candidates will be Friday 21st April, 2023.”
Osayande stated that the commission will publish the final list of validated candidates on Monday 24th April, 2023, noting that notice of polls at the ward collation centers will be released on Saturday 22nd, April, 2023.
He said, “Submission of names of party agents by political parties will be on Saturday 29th April, 2023, while electioneering campaigns will end Midnight of Thursday 4th May 2023.”
The electoral body maintained that the Local Government Elections will be held on Saturday, 6th May, 2023, adding, “However, it’s pertinent to state that the primaries which were conducted by political parties and monitored by Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) before the shift of the date earlier fixed for the election remain valid.”
