By Ayo Ayodele
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially released the timetable and schedule of activities for the upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States. The announcement was made by the Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during the swearing-in ceremony of six newly appointed Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to Prof. Yakubu, the decision follows legal requirements mandating the Commission to publish notices for major elections not later than 360 days before the date fixed for the elections. The last governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun were held in June and July 2022 respectively, and the current tenures of the governors in both states will expire in 2026.
For Ekiti State, the governorship election is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Political party primaries will begin on October 20, 2025, and end on November 10, 2025. Parties are expected to upload their nomination forms on a dedicated portal, which will automatically shut down at 6:00 pm on December 22, 2025. The final list of candidates will be published on January 18, 2026, and political campaigns will commence on January 21, 2026, ending 24 hours before election day.
In Osun State, the governorship election will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026. Party primaries are scheduled to begin on November 24, 2025, and conclude on December 15, 2025. The deadline for uploading nomination forms is February 9, 2026, by 6:00 pm. The final list of candidates will be released on March 9, 2026, with political campaigns to run from March 11, 2026, and end a day before the polls.
Prof. Yakubu also noted that the detailed timetable and schedule of activities for both elections have been uploaded to INEC’s official website and social media platforms for easy access by political parties and the general public.
Addressing public concern, he acknowledged the growing demand for the conduct of pending bye-elections, now totaling 17, as well as the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) across the country. He assured Nigerians that the Commission is finalizing preparations for both processes, especially with the Anambra State governorship election approaching. Detailed information on these activities will be released shortly.