Kaduna: INEC Sensitizes Nigerians On Amended Electoral Act Provisions

.. Announces timetable for 2023 general elections

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The Independent Electoral commission,) INEC) in Kaduna rolled out the several provisions of the Amended Electoral Act signed by President Muhammadu Buhari and what is expected from all and sundry to ensure a seamless and sustainable electoral process in future elections

The commission highlighted ten Key areas of the Electoral Act, such as INEC’s financial independence, inclusion of persons with disabilities and special needs, Electronic Voter Accreditation, redefinition of over- Voting, if a candidate dies in an election, elections declared under duress, early conduct of pramaries,, campaigns starting early, not allowing party members work for INEC amd lastly the Electronic transmission of results

While addressing a Press briefing at the INEC collation center, Kaduna on Wednesday, Resident Electoral Commissiiomer, Dr. Asmau Sani Maikudi, further announced timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election, ongoing( CVR) registration, in the state among others

She said,  the commission has also concluded arrangement for the commencement of campaigns by political parties for the Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly Elections in kaduna state.

The commission said the campaign for presidential and national assembly elections will commence on September 2022 while that of governorship and State House of Assembly will commence on October 12, 2022.

She noted that the last day of campaign by political parties for the presidential and National Assembly is at midnight of February 23, 2023, while that of governorship and State Assembly is at midnight of March 9, 2023.

The REC however disclosed that the commission has also increased the number of polling units in the state from 5, 102 to 8, 012 adding that the continuous voter registration exercise has commenced in Birnin Gwari.

She pointed out that, the conversion of voting points across the federation by the commission led to the state having an additional 2, 910 and advised registrants to make enquiries as to the new polling units located close to their residences as well as old Personal Voters Card (PVC) holders who may wish to change their location.

“Under the law, there are critical time-bound activities for the publication of Notice of Election to the Conduct of Polls which form the timetable and schedule of activities for election.

“Some of the crucial activities and their dates of implementation are as follows: publication of notice of election 28th February 2022, the conduct of party primaries including; resolutions of disputes arising from them 4th April 2022, submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal for Presidential and National Assembly election from 9 am on 10th June 2022 to 6 pm on 17th June 2022.

“Submission of nomination forms to INEC via online nomination portal for Governorship and State Assembly elections from 9 am, 1st June 2002 to 6 pm on 15th June 2022, commencement of campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections on 28th September 2022, the commencement of campaigns by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections 12th October 2022.

“The last day of campaign by political parties for the Presidential and National Assembly elections is midnight 23rd February 2023 and the last day of campaign by political parties for the Governorship and State Assembly election is midnight 9th March 2023.”

She then informed that there has been remarkable improvement in the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise stressing that, “In the last two weeks, the online registration has gone up to 236, 855 and the complete registration of 84, 335 as of 7th March 2022 because registration is only completed after physical capture.”

Asked if inmates will be allowed to vote at the 2023 elections, she said, “It is at the discretion of 5 National Assembly. If it is a law, INEC has no option but to implement the law and once it is passed by the National Assembly, people in correctional centres will be allowed to vote.”