INEC National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu
INEC issues ‘Notice of Election’ to states, FCT ahead 2023 Presidential, NASS, governorship poll
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Monday, formally published a notice of election, sequel to the announcement, last Saturday, of its revised timetable for the 2023 General Elections.
The ‘Notice of Election’ termed (Form EC 60A) on Monday, was issued to each state of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
INEC confirmed this move as required compliance with section 28(1) of the electoral act of 2022, and to authenticate the said dates and schedules as legally binding on all political parties and states of the federation towards the coming elections.
“In compliance with Section 28 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires INEC to publish the “Notice of Election” in each State of the Federation and the FCT stating: (a) the date of the election; and (b) the place where the nomination papers are to be delivered; Presidential and National Assembly; Saturday, 25th February, 2023; Governorship and State Assembly; Saturday, 11th March, 2023,” read he notice in part.
It would be recalled that INEC fixed the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday, March 25, 2023 while the Governorship and State House of Assembly shall hold on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
The commission has also issued the timetable for the schedule of activities for the 2023 General Elections.
INEC had originally slated the 2023 Presidential election to hold from February 18 to February 25, 2023, under its previous timetable.
According to the INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this in Abuja, Saturday, during a media briefing to unveil the calendar of the electoral body sequel to the signing of the Electoral Amendment Act 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday, the commission has fixed February 28, 2022 for the issuance of notice of the elections while March 1, 2022 has been scheduled for the collection of forms for the election by the political parties.
”Conduct of party primaries including resolution of deputies arising from the primaries has been fixed for 4th April to end 3rd June 2022,” he said.
He said the submission of Forms for presidential and National Assembly elections would come up on 10th to 17th June 2022 while governorship and state House of Assembly starts from July 1st to 15th July 2022.
“Publication of personal particulars of candidates by the commission for presidential and National Assembly elections will come up on the 24th June 2022 and that of the governorship comes on the 22nd July 2022 and the last date for the submission of nomination forms for presidential and national Assembly takes place on the 8th of August 2022while that of the governorship and state House of Assembly shall hold on the 18th of August 2022,” Professor Yakubu said.
Professor Yakubu also noted that the publication of final list of nominated candidates by the commission for the presidential and national Assembly elections shall be on the 20th of September, 2022 and that of the governorship and state House of Assembly shall be on October 4, 2022.
He said the commencement of campaign by political parties in public for the presidential and National Assembly has been fixed for 28th September, 2022 saying that the governorship and state House of Assembly shall be on October 12, 2022.
“Publication of notice of poll by the commission shall be on the January 30th 2023 and last date for campaigns by the political parties for the presidential and National Assembly shall be on the 23rd February 2023 and that of governorship and state House of Assembly shall be on the 9th of March 2023,” the INEC chairman added.
It would be recalled that the INEC chairman had informed political parties last month, that the announcement of the commission’s revised calendar was predicated on the signing into law of the Electoral Act by President Buhari.
