The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced the
dates of elections for the next 36 years.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, released the
timetable for elections from 2019 to 2055 during a meeting with the
chairmen of political parties in Abuja on Wednesday.


According to INEC’s arrangement, the general elections from 2019 to
2055 will hold on two days respectively as opposed to the proposal of
the National Assembly which holds on three days with the following
sequence: National Assembly (day one) governorship and state House
of Assembly (day two) and presidential (day three).

Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
Yakubu said in other developed democracies, the dates for elections
were fixed.

He, therefore, stated that it was time for Nigeria to follow suit.

He said, “In 2019, the dates are February 16 and March 2; in 2023,
the dates are February 18 and March 4. In 2027, the dates are
February 20 and March 6; in 2031, it is February 15 and March 1.

“In 2035, it is February 17 and March 3; in 2039, it is February 19
and March 5 and in 2043, it will hold on February 21 and March 7. In
2047, it is February 15 and March 2; in 2051, it is February 18 and
March 1; in 2055, it is February 20 and March 6.”
He argued that the idea “is to engender certainty in our electoral
calendar, allows for long term planning by the commission as well as
stakeholders and brings our democracy in line with the best practice
around the world. I am glad that this decision has received the
overwhelming support of stakeholders.”
On the issue of underage voting, Yakubu vowed that the commission
would ensure that ineligible voters are removed from the register.

He said, “The commission is determined to clean up the voter register
of all ineligible registrants as provided for in section 12(1) of the
electoral Act 2010 (as amended). We have displayed the list of all
newly registered voters at the end of each of the three quarters of the
exercise in 2017 at the various registration centres nationwide for
claims and objections as required by law. We have also done the data
consolidation and run the Automated Fingerprint Identification
System (AFIS) on all new registrants. We have carefully scrutinised
the list.”


He, however, pleaded with the political parties to assist the
commission in the process, stressing that they had important role to
play.

Yakubu said the commission had received applications from 108
associations that wanted to be registered as political parties.

The INEC boss, however, revealed that 66 associations had failed the
initial assessment and had been advised accordingly and none had
responded so far.

“Thirty-three associations have passed the initial assessment and
were formally advised to proceed to the next stage while nine
associations are at the final stages of the process,” he said.

On the coming Ekiti and Osun governorship polls, Yakubu appealed to
political parties to ensure that proactive steps were taken to ensure
free and fair primaries.

The political parties under the umbrella of Inter-Party Advisory
Council commended the INEC boss for setting the dates for future
elections.

They said organising and undertaking elections remained the
exclusive preserve of INEC.

The Chairman of IPAC, Mohammed Nalado, said the issue was a
constitutional one and not until the laws were amended, “INEC’s order
of election stands under the existing law.”
He said,” I think this is a constitutional issue. What INEC has done at
the moment is based on what is in the provision of the constitution.

If there is any law that supersedes what they have done, that law is
not to be abandoned. So, we stand on the same page. So, we have to
be working together, INEC, political parties and all the stakeholders in
the democratic development.”

But the House of Representatives reacted to the announcement,
saying that INEC would see itself as performing its duties until the
new amendments to the Electoral Act 2010 came into effect.

The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr.
Abdulrazak Namdas, told The PUNCH that the National Assembly was
waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the new bill.

He explained that after the President’s signature and the bill became
law, INEC would have no option but to comply.

Namdas added, “If the President signs the bill, INEC will have to
comply. If they fail to comply, they can only go to the judiciary as the
last resort.

“So, the House can’t take issues with INEC over a law that is not in
operation as yet. They are doing their work and we are doing our job
as a legislature, which is law making.”

http://saharareporters.com/2018/03/01/inec-releases-general-election-dates-next-36-years