The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday adjusted the dates to conduct the 2023 general elections.
INEC, thereafter, announced new dates for the polls, coming a day after President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.
It is the fourth time the Electoral Act was repealed and re-enacted since the return of democracy in Nigeria in May 1999.
The 1998-1999 elections were administered by transitional decrees until the emergence of the 2001 Electoral Act, which was repealed and re-enacted as the Electoral Act 2002.
The Electoral Act 2002 was in turn repealed and re-enacted in 2006, 2010, and now the Electoral Act 2022.
READ ALSO: INEC Announces New Dates For 2023 Elections
Here are eight critical timelines for the forthcoming general elections, as announced by INEC:
– Publication of Notice of Election – Monday 28th February 2022.
– Conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them – Monday 4th April 2022 to Friday 3rd June 2022.
– 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.
– 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.
– Commencement of campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly election – Wednesday 28th September 2022.
– Commencement of campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – Wednesday 12th October 2022.
– Last day of campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 23rd February 2023.
– Last day of campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 9th March 2023.
