…Obiano to Leave, March 17, 2022
By Jude Atupulazi
The 2021 governorship election in Anambra State will come up on Saturday, November 6 this year, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced.
The INEC Chairman of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement issued last Tuesday, said the date followed a meeting by the commission to deliberate on the activities for the conduct of the poll, adding that the tenure of Governor Willie Obiano would expire by March 17, 2022.
His words, ‘By virtue of Section (178)(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 25(7) and (8) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), election into the office of the State Governor shall hold not earlier than 150 and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office,’ the statement partly read.
‘Constitutionally and statutorily, the tenure of the Governor of Anambra State will expire on 17th of March, 2022 and the earliest date for the election into the office of Governor, Anambra State, shall be 18th October, 2021, and the latest date for the election shall be 15th February 2022,’ the statement further read.
He said that in the exercise of the powers conferred on the commission by the Constitution, the Electoral Act and all other powers enabling it in that regard, the Commission had fixed 6th November, 2021 as the date for the conduct of the Anambra State governorship election.
He said a statutory notice on the timetable and schedule of electoral activities would be issued on June 9.
While the collection of forms would commence on June 10, INEC said the deadline for the conduct of primaries and resolution of conflicts arising from the exercise is July 1.
After the election and declaration of winner by INEC, Fides reports, the winner will be addressed as governor-elect until the date of swearing in on March 17, 2022. It is also the date the incumbent governor will finally conclude his eight-year term.
In the recent history of Anambra State, only former Gov Peter Obi and incumbent, Willie Obiano, have been able to survive their first term and conclude their second.