Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission to Issue Certificates of Return to Governor-Elects Next Week

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will be issuing certificates of return to newly elected governors, deputy governors-elect and State Assembly members-elect from Wednesday, March 29 to Friday, March 31. In a statement released on Saturday, March 25, INEC National Commissioner, Festus Okoye noted that the Commission is mandated by Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 to issue a certificate of return within 14 days to every candidate who has been declared elected. He further stated that the presentation of the certificates will take place in INEC offices in each State of the Federation, with specific dates for the issuance of the certificates to be communicated to those elected by the Resident Electoral Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries of the various States. As of now, the results of 26 of the 28 governorship elections have been announced. The All Progressives Congress (APC) won in 15 states, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in nine, Labour Party (LP) in one while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) won Kano. The elections in Kebbi and Adamawa were declared inconclusive.