The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has budgeted the sum of N7billion for the conduct of the Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections in 2022.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu disclosed this on Friday when he was defending the N140billion INEC 2022 budget before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on INEC and Electoral Matters.
“We also budgeted N7bn for the conduct of Ekiti and Osun governorship election including the possibility of runoffs.
“We made a provision of N2.6bn for Ekiti State with a population of over one million registered voters and N4.4bn for Osun with 30 local government areas,” Yakubu stated.
INEC had earlier fixed June 18, 2022 for Ekiti governorship election and July 16, 2022 for same exercise in Osun State.
The INEC chairman, Prof. Yakubu, had disclosed this in June at the Commission’s meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.
Yakubu said that the commencement date of campaign and other detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the two elections were uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.
“In the sequence of off-season elections, the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections are holding next year.
“In keeping with our policy of announcing the dates of elections in advance to enable early and effective preparations by all concerned, the Commission has approved that the Ekiti State Governorship election will hold on Saturday June 18 2022.
“The Osun State Governorship election will hold one month later on Saturday July 16, 2022.
“We implore political parties and aspirants to ensure rancour-free primaries and, thereafter, conduct peaceful electioneering campaigns,” he said.
