By Jude Opara, Abuja

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the primary elections of political parties to hold between April 4 and June 3, 2022.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Commission, Prof.

Similarly, the submission of Nomination Forms online via the Nomination Portal will hold 9am, June 10, 2022 to 6pm, June 17, 2022 for the Presidential and National Assembly aspirants and between 9am, July 1,2022 and 6pm, July 15,2022 for the Governorship ad State Assembly aspirants.

Yakubu who spoke extensively on the critical timelines for the 2023 general elections in view of the signing into law the new Electoral Bill 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari last Friday, added that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will be conducted on February 25, 2023 while the Governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled for March 11, 2023.

“You may recall that in 2017, the Commission decided to establish fixed dates for General Elections in Nigeria. This decision was based on our 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. By that decision, Presidential and National Assembly elections shall hold on the third Saturday of the month of February of each General Election year, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections shall follow two weeks later. Consequently, the 2023 General Election was scheduled to commence on 18th February 2023 with the Presidential and National Assembly elections, followed by the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on the 4th of March 2023. However, the Commission could not release the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election, as it normally would, because of the pending enactment of the Electoral Act 2022. The Bill has now been signed into law.

“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”.

Under the dispensation, Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly election will begin on Wednesday 28th September 2022 and end on Thursday 23rd February, 2023.

Also, Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections will kick start on Wednesday 12th October 2022 and runs till Thursday 9th March 2023.

Already INEC has concluded arrangements to publish the Notice of Election in its offices in all the States of the Federation as required by law on Monday 28th February 2022.

The Commission also cautioned political parties and some politicians that have more or less flagged off their campaign programmes to desist as it is poised to decisively punish any erring party or individual.

“On this note, 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 organization and management of party primaries and the nomination of qualified candidates in order to prevent unnecessary litigations and rancour” Yakubu concluded.