INEC releases 2023 election time table
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced new dates for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
The commission had earlier announced February 18, 2023 for the presidential election.
On Saturday, the commission’s chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, told journalists that new dates have been fixed for the elections.
Presidential and National Assembly elections have been slated for February 25, 2023 while governorship and state assembly elections will now be held on March 11, 2023.
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The INEC chairman said the new dates followed the signing of the amendments to the Electoral Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.
He said the Commission was waiting for the president’s decision on the bill before releasing its schedule of activities for the 2023 poll.
The bill was signed into law on Friday by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He had rejected the same bill five times, citing reasons such as drafting errors to proximity to the date of elections, insecurity, cost of executing of its provisions among others.
In his address to journalists at an emergency meeting held at the commission’s headquarters, Mr Mahmood said the new dates are in conformity with the INEC’s aim of ensuring certainty in its electoral calendar.
“Therefore, the Electoral Act 2022, together with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), form the legal basis for conducting all elections in Nigeria. In particular, the Electoral Act provides strict timelines for the implementation of electoral activities based on the date of the General Election.
One of the significant timelines is the publication of Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the day appointed for holding an election which has now lapsed for the 2023 General Election.
“Consequently, the Commission has decided to adjust the dates of the 2023 General Election to ensure compliance with the provisions of the new law. Accordingly, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday 25th February 2023 while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday 11th March 2023. With this adjustment, the 2023 General Election is now 363 days away,” he said.
Before the new dates, both the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were slated for March 4, 2023.
