16th August, 2012
The Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) in Nigeria’s central state of Benue has fixed 24 November, for the conduct of local government elections in the state, with eight political parties already collecting nomination forms.
According to the election timetable released by the commission in Makurdi today, collection of bio-data forms by the aspirants has been fixed for 20 September while the last day for the submission of forms by the aspirants is 28 September.
The programme also states that verification of candidates’ particulars will be done on 2 October while the return of suitable or unsuitable list of candidates verified by the political parties will be on 10 October.
It also states that the list of substituted candidates by the political parties will be returned to the commission on 17 October.
The programme shows that the list of substituted candidates will be verified by the commission between 30 October and 31 October, while the actual collection of nomination forms by the cleared candidates will be on 2 November.
The timetable further indicates that on 5 November, the commission will close submission of nomination forms while candidates will be allowed to withdraw their candidature the following day.
It also indicates that political parties will display the list of their candidates on 5 November.
According to the timetable, the second nomination forms for candidates whose nominations are adjudged invalid will be submitted on 12 November.
It shows further that the commission will display the list of nominated candidates along with those that nominated them on 15 November.
The programme indicates that collection of validity of nomination form by candidates at the local government area offices of the commission will be done by the political parties on 22 November while campaigns are officially expected to terminate same date at midnight.
Elections and the declaration of results are to be done on 24 November by the commission while the winners of the various electoral offices will be issued certificates of return two days after.
It shows that the commission has also set aside 8 December for the conduct of re-run polls while the issuance of certificate of return to those elected in the bye election is 10 December.