The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Tuesday that a significant voter base of over 5.4 million Nigerians is poised to participate in the upcoming governorship elections scheduled for November 11 in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states. The revelation came through a statement from Sam Olumekun, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
In the official statement released after the Commission’s regular meeting on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, preparations for the off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States were thoroughly reviewed. According to the statement, Bayelsa State boasts 1,056,862 registered voters, Imo State has 2,419,922, and Kogi State has 1,932,654, amounting to a combined total of 5,409,438 registered voters across the three states.
As outlined in the timetable and schedule of activities, the complete register of voters for each state will be presented to the political parties involved in the elections. Notably, 16 political parties are sponsoring candidates in Bayelsa State, 17 in Imo State, and all 18 parties in Kogi State.
The INEC invited State Chairmen of political parties or their designated representatives to attend an event scheduled for Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 10.00 am. The event will take place at the Collation Centres in the State Headquarters of the Commission located in Lokoja, Owerri, and Yenagoa.
The electoral exercise is set to occur simultaneously in the three states on Saturday, October 14, 2023, from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm. The Commission emphasized the importance of registered voters in the selected polling units turning up with their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for the exercise.
