Abuja—The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has on Saturday announced new dates for the 2023 general elections in Nigeria.
Recall that the commission had earlier announced February 18, 2023, for the presidential election.
On Saturday, the commission’s chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, told journalists that new dates have been fixed for the elections.
While the Presidential and National Assembly elections have been slated for February 25, 2023, governorship and state assembly elections have been shifted to March 11, 2023.
According to the electoral umpire, the reason for the shift in dates for the various elections is to comply with the provisions of the new law which partly states that the publication of notice of election should not be later than 360 days before the day appointed for holding an election which has now elapsed going by the earlier stated dates for the 2023 general elections.
Meanwhile, the following is the new timetable released by INEC for the 2023 General elections.
Timetable and Schedule of Activities for 2023 General Elections:
1. Publication of Notice of Election– Monday 28th February 2022.
2. Conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from them Monday 4th April 2022 to Friday 3rd June 2022.
3. Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal for Presidential and National Assembly election – 9.00 am on Friday 10th June 2022 to 6.00 pm on Friday 17th June 2022.
4. Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online nomination portal for Governorship and State Assembly elections – 9.00 am on Friday 1st July 2022 to 6.00 pm on Friday 15th July 2022.
5. Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly election – Wednesday 28th September 2022.
6. Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections– Wednesday 12th October 2022.
7. Last day of the campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 23rd February 2023.
8. Last day of the campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 9th March 2023.
