The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared the political race for the 2023 general election open in compliance with extant provisions of the law.
Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the Electoral Bill on February 25, the commission held an emergency extraordinary meeting on February 26 to release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general election.
The dates for the election were announced in a daily bulletin published by the Director of Voter Education, Victor Aluko, on Monday. It also advised political parties to take note that nomination papers for elected posts would be delivered to INEC headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, using an online platform set up for the purpose.
The presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023, according to the notice of election. The general election in 2023 is now 363 days away, according to this latest change.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said the goal of the change was to ensure compliance with the requirements of the new law.
Yakubu who listed some of the critical electioneering activities and their dates announced the commencement of the campaign by political parties. On Wednesday, October 12th, 2022, political parties will begin their campaign for the Presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state Assembly elections.
He highlighted that political parties’ campaigning for the Presidential and National Assembly elections ends at midnight on Thursday, February 23, 2023, while gubernatorial and state Assembly elections end at midnight on Thursday, March 9, 2023.
Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, has urged all stakeholders, particularly political parties, to adhere to the existing legislative framework, ensure the organization and management of party primaries, and the nomination of eligible candidates in order to avoid unnecessary litigation and discord.
In response to the notice, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and pro-democracy group Actionaid urged INEC and political parties to ensure compliance with President Muhammadu Buhari’s new Electoral Act, which they said would create an enabling environment for women and youths to participate in politics.