Election activities begin with the publication of the schedule of activities of the 2023 election, which INEC did on February 26.
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has been thrown into more confusion since the exit of its national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, nearly two years ago.
APC has been running on an ad-hoc basis since Oshiomhole’s sack as national chairman, and has flip flopped on holding an elective convention to put the house in order.
By March 26 when the APC will be holding the convention to elect its officials, it will be less than three months to the deadline for political parties to conduct their primaries.
According to the timetable for the schedule of activities of the 2023 election recently released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all political parties are expected to complete their elective primaries by Jube 3.
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The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu, warned political parties that failed to meet the deadline to forget about participating in the election.
According to INEC, 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.
Under the law, there are critical time bound activities from the publication of Notice of Election to the Conduct of Polls which form the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for elections. Some of the critical activities and their dates of implementation as listed by INEC are as follows:
i. Publication of Notice of Election – Monday 28th February 2022.
ii. Conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them – Monday 4th April 2022 to Friday 3rd June 2022.
iii. 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.
iv. 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.
v. Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly election – Wednesday 28th September 2022.
vi. Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – Wednesday 12th October 2022.
vii. Last day of campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 23rd February 2023.
viii. Last day of campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 9th March 2023.
Yakubu told journalists in Abuja that the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election will be circulated and soft copies will also be uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms immediately.
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.
“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 Election, Yakubu said
The INEC chairman reminded 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.”