The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the governorship elections of Kogi and Bayelsa States for November and December this year respectively.

The dates were set after at the electoral body’s meeting of July 9.

In a statement by the Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Dr. Chris Iyimoga, the electoral commission said the Governorship Election in Kogi would hold on Saturday, 21 November, 2015 while that of Bayelsa State would hold on Saturday December 5, 2015.

“Formal notices of the elections shall be issued on or before August 23, 2015 and September 5, 2015, respectively, in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act,” the statement read.

“Campaigns by political Parties shall commence on July 24, 2015 and end on November 19 in Kogi and September 6, terminating on December 3 in Bayelsa,” it added.

INEC urged political parties in the affected states to note that campaigns outside the stipulated periods are unlawful and liable to prosecution.

It also asked political parties and aspirants to conduct their primaries to nominate candidates for the elections between August 25 and September 15, for Kogi and September 7 and 30, for Bayelsa.

INEC gave November 14 as the last day for submission of the list of candidates and the personal particulars of candidates for the governorship and deputy governorship polls in Kogi, and October 7 for Bayelsa.

•Adapted from a Channels TV report. Photo shows INEC acting Chairman, Amina Zakari.