INEC Announces Date For 2023 General Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
announced the date for the 2023 general elections in the
country.

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made the announcement on
Wednesday during a one-day public hearing on the National Electoral
Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill 2021, organized by the
Senate Committee on INEC.

According to the INEC boss, the 2023 general elections are
exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days
from today.

“By the principle established by the Commission, the 2023
General Election will hold on Saturday 18th February 2023 which is
exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days
from today,” he said.

“We hope to release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for
the General Election immediately after the Anambra Governorship
election scheduled to hold on 6th November 2021.

“In order to do so, there should be clarity and certainty about
the electoral legal framework to govern the election. We are
confident that the National Assembly will do the needful in
earnest.”

Yakubu noted that one of the numerous responsibilities carried
out by the commission is the prosecution of electoral offenders,
describing it as the most challenging duty for INEC.

He lamented the delay in the prosecution of electoral offenders
has been one of the most challenging tasks for the commission since
its establishment.

He added, “For instance, since the 2015 general election, 125
cases of electoral offences were filed in various courts out of
which 60 convictions have been secured so far, including the most
recent one in Akwa Ibom State.

“The commission would like to see more successful prosecution of
offenders, not just of ballot box snatchers and falsifiers of
election results but most importantly their sponsors.

“We look forward to the day when highly placed sponsors of
thuggery, including party chieftains and candidates that seek to
benefit from violations of the law, are apprehended. We believe
that the work of the proposed Commission will help in this
regard.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
announced the date for the 2023 general elections in the
country.

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu made the announcement on
Wednesday during a one-day public hearing on the National Electoral
Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill 2021, organized by the
Senate Committee on INEC.

According to the INEC boss, the 2023 general elections are
exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days
from today.

“By the principle established by the Commission, the 2023
General Election will hold on Saturday 18th February 2023 which is
exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days
from today,” he said.

“We hope to release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for
the General Election immediately after the Anambra Governorship
election scheduled to hold on 6th November 2021.

“In order to do so, there should be clarity and certainty about
the electoral legal framework to govern the election. We are
confident that the National Assembly will do the needful in
earnest.”

Yakubu noted that one of the numerous responsibilities carried
out by the commission is the prosecution of electoral offenders,
describing it as the most challenging duty for INEC.

He lamented the delay in the prosecution of electoral offenders
has been one of the most challenging tasks for the commission since
its establishment.

He added, “For instance, since the 2015 general election, 125
cases of electoral offences were filed in various courts out of
which 60 convictions have been secured so far, including the most
recent one in Akwa Ibom State.

“The commission would like to see more successful prosecution of
offenders, not just of ballot box snatchers and falsifiers of
election results but most importantly their sponsors.

“We look forward to the day when highly placed sponsors of
thuggery, including party chieftains and candidates that seek to
benefit from violations of the law, are apprehended. We believe
that the work of the proposed Commission will help in this
regard.”