|
In compliance with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Thursday said it would soon publish the final list of candidates for national elections, namely the presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives.
Similarly, the commission said on October 4th, the final list of candidates for state elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly) would be published.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu stated this at the experts’ meeting on conducting elections in volatile security environment in Abuja.
He said campaigns in public by political parties would officially commence 28th September, 2022 as provided by Sec. 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022. Yakubu said: “Activities towards the 2023 General Election will enter the critical stages this month. In the next 19 days i.e. on 20th September, 2022, the Commission will publish the final list of candidates for national elections (Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives) as provided in Sec. 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the commission.
“This will be followed on 4th October, 2022 by the publication of the final list of candidates for State elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly). Campaign in public by political parties will officially commence on 28th September 2022 as provided by Sec. 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“As campaigns commence, we appeal to all political parties and candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns. This is the best way to complement our efforts to ensure transparent elections in which only the votes cast by citizens determine the winner.”
On citizens’ support towards peaceful elections, he said: “The commission welcomes this initiative and as Co-Chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), there is no doubt that the security agencies also welcome ideas and citizens’ support towards peaceful elections.” Yakubu said.
He recalled that the Inspector General of Police Baba Alkali recently organised a nationwide capacity-building for police personnel on election security.
The INEC boss said the police were not only motivated by the same concern of ensuring a secure environment for the election, but also enhancing the professionalism of police personnel on election duty.He commended the Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) for the meeting.
“By bringing together experts, senior security officials and the INEC leadership to share experience and discuss security concerns ahead of the 2023 General Election, CDD hopes to kickstart further collaborative engagements among stakeholders around the security challenges ahead of the election,” he said.
| |
