The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Prince Solomon Adedeji Soyebi, announced the details at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, while cautioning political parties not to interpret this announcement as the official Notice of Election.
According to the schedule, the Ekiti State governorship election will hold on July 14, 2025, while Osun State’s election is slated for September 22, 2025. Prince Soyebi explained that these dates were determined in line with constitutional provisions. He referenced Section 178 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 25 (8) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which stipulate that governorship elections must be conducted not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the incumbent governor’s term.
The current Ekiti State governor’s tenure ends on October 15, 2025, while the Osun State governor’s term concludes on November 26, 2025.
For the Ekiti election, the official Notice of Election will be issued on April 4, 2025. The campaign period for political parties will run from April 15 to July 12, 2025. Party primaries and resolution of related disputes must be completed between April 15 and May 14, with nomination forms (CF001 and CF002) due at INEC headquarters by May 15.
The commission will publish candidates’ personal particulars and lists on May 22, while the deadline for candidate withdrawal or replacement is May 30. The final list of nominated candidates will be published on June 14, coinciding with the publication of the voter register. The Notice of Poll will follow on June 30, and political parties must submit their agents’ names to the Resident Electoral Commissioner by the same date.
The Osun State governorship election follows a similar timeline. The Notice of Election will be issued on June 23, 2025, with campaigns permitted from June 24 to September 20. Party primaries must be concluded between June 24 and July 23, and nomination forms must be submitted by July 24. The list of candidates will be published on July 31, with August 8 set as the last day for candidate withdrawal or replacement.
The final list of candidates will be published on August 23, alongside the voter register. The Notice of Poll will be published on September 7, and party agents’ names must be submitted by September 8.
Prince Soyebi also reminded stakeholders that in case no candidate secures the required majority, a run-off election will be conducted within seven days after the initial results are announced, as mandated by Section 179 of the 1999 Constitution. The commission emphasized that this timetable represents the first step in the electoral process and urged all political parties to adhere strictly to the outlined schedule to ensure a smooth and transparent election.
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