The Nigeria’s Presidential election for the 2023 general elections will be held on February 25, 3023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared today, Saturday, February 26, 2022.
This is coming 24 hours after the President signed the amended Electoral Bill into Law in Abuja.
The commission, while unveiling its timetable for next year’s elections and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election disclosed that both the Presidential election and the National Assembly poll will held the same day, February 25, 2023, while Governorship and State Constituency Elections are scheduled for March 11, 2023
The INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu who announced this in Abuja Saturday, explained that the adjustment of the general election date from the static third week of February begun in 2017, adding that it was to make allowance for the newly enacted Electoral Act, 2022 and in compliance with the constitution.
The presidential primaries are scheduled between April 4th and June 3rd 2022.
Addressing a special conference Saturday in Abuja to signpost its readiness for the 2023 general election, Prof Yakubu said the commission will publish notice for the election on Monday , February 28, 2022 in compliance with section 28(1) of the Electoral Act which allows 360 days for such notices.
“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’.
Other timebound activities released by INEC include the dates for the presidential primary as well as the resolution of disputes arising from themfuxed Monday 4th April 2022 to Friday 3rd June 2022.
*Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal for Presidential and National Assembly election – 9.00am on Friday 10th June 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 17th June 2022.
*Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online nomination portal for Governorship and State Assembly elections – 9.00am on Friday 1st July 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 15th July 2022.
*Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly election – Wednesday 28th September 2022.
*Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – Wednesday 12th October 2022.
*Last day of campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 23rd February 2023.
*Last day of campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 9th March 2023, among others.
Prof Yakubu warned all Political parties to adhere strictly with the timelines and other legal framework so as to avoid unsavory outcomes.
“I wish to remind stakeholders, especially the political parties, of their responsibility to adhere strictly to the timelines in this Timetable and Schedule of Activities, as well as all other timelines established by the Commission. It is necessary that all political parties comply with the extant legal framework, ensure proper organisation and management of party primaries and the nomination of qualified candidates in order to prevent unnecessary litigations and rancour”.
With the passage of the Act, Prof Yakubu said the commission will intensify effort to come out with necessary regulations and guidelines that are consistent with the new Act adding that such Regulations and manuals from INEC will form part of the legal framework for the elections.
Fielding reporters’ questions on the complaints raised over the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the INEC boss said disclosed that reports coming from the various locations where national and state constituency bye-elections are taking place today shows that BVAS is working perfectly.
He said the commission will continue to do what it is doing, maintaining that the BVAS is working.
Uche Nwosu is a two time Shell Petroleum PLC award winner in the year 2000;
He won the Shell Award on Investigative Journalism and Environmental Cleanliness.
