JUST IN: INEC states general elections dates for the next 36 years

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on
Wednesday announced dates for general elections in the country for
the next 36 years, starting from 2019 to 2055.

The chairman of the commission, Mamood Yakubu, made the
announcement at a consultative meeting with leaders of political
parties in Abuja.

“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,” Mr. Yakubu
said.

He pointed out that in other democracies of the world, periods
of elections were generally known and were not topics for
speculation.

Mr. Yakubu explained that the aim was to engender certainty in
the election calendar and allow for long-term planning by the
commission and all stakeholders.

He said that certainty in election calendar was necessary to
match Nigeria’s democratic system with global best. practices.

The chairman said that in the last one week, INEC received 108
applications from associations seeking to be registered as
political parties.

He said that 66 of the applications did not meet the initial
requirements while 33 passed and had proceeded to the next
stage.

He said that nine others were at the final stage of
registration.

The INEC boss commended political parties for the roles they
played in the governorship and National Assembly by-elections in
Anambra which ensured that the exercises were crisis-free.

He urged all existing political parties yet to comply with all
relevant sections of the constitutional requirements necessary for
their existence, to do so.

He advised the parties to ensure rancour-free conventions and
congresses ahead of 2019 and the Ekiti and Osun governorship
elections later in the year.

“Internal party democracy is critical to the overall success of
the elections and it helps to eliminate some protracted
litigations.

“Less than a year to the 2019 general elections, there are still
cases in courts, challenging the nomination of candidates in the
2015 elections,’’ he said.

Mr. Yakubu urged the parties to support the commission in its
quest to sanitise the voter register by drawing the attention of
the umpire to any irregularity.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council
(IPAC), Mohammed Nalado, commended INEC for recognising political
parties as partners.

He said that with little or no financial support, political
parties were at the forefront of voter sensitisation to the need to
conduct themselves responsibly at polling units.

Mr. Nalado commended the commission for creating an enabling
environment for free and fair elections by rolling out election
calendar in good time.

He added that the political parties were happy with the position
of INEC on the sequence of elections, saying that the commission
acted on the existing law.

He welcomed the newly-registered political parties to IPAC and
urged INEC to support the council’s plan to amend its code of
conduct.

According to Mr. Nalado, the amendment will address issues of
internal democracy, conflict resolution system among other issues
affecting political parties in the country.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on
Wednesday announced dates for general elections in the country for
the next 36 years, starting from 2019 to 2055.

The chairman of the commission, Mamood Yakubu, made the
announcement at a consultative meeting with leaders of political
parties in Abuja.

“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,” Mr. Yakubu
said.

He pointed out that in other democracies of the world, periods
of elections were generally known and were not topics for
speculation.

Mr. Yakubu explained that the aim was to engender certainty in
the election calendar and allow for long-term planning by the
commission and all stakeholders.

He said that certainty in election calendar was necessary to
match Nigeria’s democratic system with global best. practices.

The chairman said that in the last one week, INEC received 108
applications from associations seeking to be registered as
political parties.

He said that 66 of the applications did not meet the initial
requirements while 33 passed and had proceeded to the next
stage.

He said that nine others were at the final stage of
registration.

The INEC boss commended political parties for the roles they
played in the governorship and National Assembly by-elections in
Anambra which ensured that the exercises were crisis-free.

He urged all existing political parties yet to comply with all
relevant sections of the constitutional requirements necessary for
their existence, to do so.

He advised the parties to ensure rancour-free conventions and
congresses ahead of 2019 and the Ekiti and Osun governorship
elections later in the year.

“Internal party democracy is critical to the overall success of
the elections and it helps to eliminate some protracted
litigations.

“Less than a year to the 2019 general elections, there are still
cases in courts, challenging the nomination of candidates in the
2015 elections,’’ he said.

Mr. Yakubu urged the parties to support the commission in its
quest to sanitise the voter register by drawing the attention of
the umpire to any irregularity.

In his remarks, the Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council
(IPAC), Mohammed Nalado, commended INEC for recognising political
parties as partners.

He said that with little or no financial support, political
parties were at the forefront of voter sensitisation to the need to
conduct themselves responsibly at polling units.

Mr. Nalado commended the commission for creating an enabling
environment for free and fair elections by rolling out election
calendar in good time.

He added that the political parties were happy with the position
of INEC on the sequence of elections, saying that the commission
acted on the existing law.

He welcomed the newly-registered political parties to IPAC and
urged INEC to support the council’s plan to amend its code of
conduct.

According to Mr. Nalado, the amendment will address issues of
internal democracy, conflict resolution system among other issues
affecting political parties in the country.