2023: Bad News for APC, PDP, Others as INEC Issues Fresh Updates on Election Schedule
- The independent national electoral commission (INEC) has warned political parties to be cautious of the timeframe allotted to them to conclude their primaries
- INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu reiterated that the timetable will not be adjusted as the stipulated dates are already fixed
- Nigeria's electoral body also noted that the preparation of the election timetable was in accordance with the constitution
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Nigeria’s electoral body, the independent national electoral commission (INEC) says there will be no room to reschedule the forthcoming general elections in 2023, This Day newspaper reported.
The update was made known by the electoral body’s chairman, information and voter education committee, Mr. Festus Okoye who spoke to journalists on Monday, May 16.
Source: Original
Similarly, the electoral body through its national commissioner, Kunle Ajayi prompted political parties to be aware of the stipulated deadline to conclude their various primary elections which will elapse on Friday, June 3.
As gathered by Legit.ng, Okoye noted that the deadline for primaries cannot be uttered stating that any tweak to the date will affect the entire schedule.
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Election timetable is in accordance with constitution - INEC
While speaking with newsmen, Okoye disclosed that every activity and date stipulated in the commission’s timetable was in accordance with the stipulations of the constitution, the electoral act, and the guidelines of the commission.
He revealed that the commission’s chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had reiterated that the schedule is fixed and cannot be tampered with.
He said:
“The political parties are proceeding with their congresses and primaries. The commission will not tamper with its fixtures, as doing so will affect other activities and constitutionally-circumscribed timelines.
“Certainty is key to planning, and the commission is committed to its timelines. Political parties must brace up to the challenges posed by the Electoral Act 2022.”
Okoye said judging by the number of efforts put in in the pre-preparation stages in the build-up to the 2023 polls, it will only be arbitrary to tamper with the already stipulated schedule.
He said:
“INEC is preparing for Ekiti and Osun governorship elections as well as 18 by-elections, while party primaries is a small subset of work of the commission.
“The commission is engaged in procurement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials, and we will assess and renovate our state and local government offices.
“INEC will also receive, print, and display thousands of nomination forms. Moreover, we have trained and deployed hundreds of monitors for the congresses and primaries.”
2023: INEC boss, Mahmood Yakubu charged to court over asset declaration
In another development, a lawsuit has been filed against the INEC boss with the plaintiff seeking that the court should issue an order compelling his immediate asset declaration.
The suit requesting the asset declaration of INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu was filed before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
As gathered by Legit.ng, the plaintiff is praying to the court to issue an order to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) which was also added in the application to compel Yakubu to a declaration of his asset.
Nomination forms: EFCC writes INEC, demands parties, other aspirants’ bank details
Similarly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked INEC to provide the APC, PDP and other aspirant's bank details following its latest investigation regarding the funds of political parties.
This move by the anti-graft agency is part of its efforts to unfold the source of funds used by aspirants and support groups in the purchase of the APC, PDP and other political parties' nomination forms.
Ahead of the 2023 elections, EFCC has reached out to two specific banks in the country demanding the details of accounts operated by the ruling APC and opposition PDP.
Source: Legit.ng
