INEC gives Nigeria permanent dates for general elections
Presidential, NASS elections to hold February 25
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria would henceforth hold on the third Saturday in February of election years. The INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja while announcing new dates for the 2023 general elections to journalists.
The development came on the heels of the signing of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.
The commission had earlier announced February 18, 2023 for the presidential election. However, yesterday, the INEC boss said the commission decided to adjust the date to February 25 in order to ensure compliance with the provisions of the new law.
He said the governorship and state houses of assembly elections would follow on March 11, 2023.
He explained that the change was necessary as the 360-day timeline for the publication of Notice of Election had lapsed.
He said that with the adjustment, the 2023 general elections were 363 days away.
Yakubu stated that the decision was based on the commission’s determination to create certainty in the electoral calendar and to enable all stakeholders in the electoral process (the electoral commission, political parties and candidates, security agencies, observers, the media etc) to prepare adequately for elections.
He said, “By that decision, presidential and National Assembly elections shall hold on the third Saturday of February of each general elections year, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections shall follow two weeks later.
“Consequently, the 2023 general elections were scheduled to commence on February 18, 2023 with the presidential and National Assembly elections, followed by the governorship and state houses of assembly elections on March 4, 2023.
“However, the commission could not release the detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the general elections as it normally would, because of the pending enactment of the Electoral Act 2022. The bill has now been signed into law.”
The INEC boss added that the Electoral Act 2022, together with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), formed the legal basis for conducting all elections in Nigeria.
He said that in particular, the Electoral Act provided strict timelines for the implementation of electoral activities based on the date of the general elections.
Commencement of campaigns
According to Yakubu, the campaign by political parties for the presidential and National Assembly elections would commence on September 28, 2022 while that of governorship and state assembly elections was fixed for October 12, 2022.
He added that the last day of the campaign by political parties for presidential and National Assembly elections would be February 23, 2023 midnight and March 9, 2023 for governorship and state assembly elections.
Yakubu said, “In addition, the Notice of Election will be published in our offices in all the states of the federation as required by law on Monday, February 28, 2022.
“With the coming into force of the Electoral Act 2022, the commission will work assiduously to conclude and publish new regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections that are consistent with the act.
“These regulations and guidelines, as well as manuals issued by the commission, are all part of the legal regulatory framework for elections. Their timely publication will enable all stakeholders in the electoral process to become conversant with their provisions as they prepare for the 2023 general elections.”
Yakubu urged stakeholders, especially the political parties, of their responsibility to adhere strictly to the timelines in the timetable and schedule of activities, as well as all other timelines established by the commission.
He said it was necessary for all political parties to comply with the extant legal framework, ensure proper organisation and management of party primaries and nominate qualified candidates in order to prevent unnecessary litigations and rancour.
Yakubu speaks on BVAS failure
The INEC boss also said that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) recorded more successes far beyond what he called a few isolated cases of malfunctioning.