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Breaking: INEC unveils, adjust timetable for 2023 general election
Following the assent to the Electoral Act 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari,the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced the timetable for the 2023 general elections.
The Commission also made adjustments of some of the dates.
INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, while briefing journalists on Saturday stated that, the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on same day on February 25, 2023 while Governorship and state assembly elections will also be held on the same day on March 11, two weeks after the presidential election.
Also that the conduct of party primaries including resolution of disputes arising from primaries for national and state elections has been slated for between 4th April- 3rd June, 2022
According to Mahmood that ,”the Commission has decided to adjust the dates of the 2023 General Election to ensure compliance with the provisions of the new law. Accordingly, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday 25th February 2023 while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday 11th March 2023. With this adjustment, the 2023 General Election is now 363 days away.
“Under the law, there are critical timebound activities from the publication of Notice of Election to the Conduct of Polls which form the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for elections. Some of the critical activities and their dates of implementation are as follows:
Publication of Notice of Election – Monday 28th February 2022.
Conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them – Monday 4th April 2022 to Friday 3rd June 2022.
Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal for Presidential and National Assembly election – 9.00am on Friday 10th June 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 17th June 2022.
Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online nomination portal for Governorship and State Assembly elections – 9.00am on Friday 1st July 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 15th July 2022.
Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly election – Wednesday 28th September 2022.
Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – Wednesday 12th October 2022.
Last day of campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 23rd February 2023.
Last day of campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 9th March 2023.
Text statement reads:
“As you are aware, yesterday, Friday 25th February 2022, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria signed the Electoral Bill 2022 into law. This is historic being the fourth time since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in May 1999 that the Electoral Act was repealed and re-enacted. The 1998 – 1999 elections were administered by transitional decrees until the 2001 Electoral Act was passed into law. Then, the Act was repealed and re-enacted as the Electoral Act 2002 which was in turn repealed and re-enacted in 2006, 2010 and now we have the 2022 Electoral Act.
“You may recall that in 2017, the Commission decided to establish fixed dates for General Elections in Nigeria. This decision was based on our determination to create certainty in the electoral calendar and to enable all stakeholders in the electoral process (the electoral commission, political parties and candidates, security agencies, observers, the media etc.) to prepare adequately for elections. By that decision, Presidential and National Assembly elections shall hold on the third Saturday of the month of February of each General Election year, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections shall follow two weeks later. Consequently, the 2023 General Election was scheduled to commence on 18th February 2023 with the Presidential and National Assembly elections, followed by the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on the 4th of March 2023. However, the Commission could not release the detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election, as it normally would, because of the pending enactment of the Electoral Act 2022. The Bill has now been signed into law.
“Therefore, the Electoral Act 2022, together with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), form the legal basis for conducting all elections in Nigeria. In particular, the Electoral Act provides strict timelines for the implementation of electoral activities based on the date of the General Election. One of the significant timelines is the publication of Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the day appointed for holding an election which has now lapsed for the 2023 General Election.
“Consequently, the Commission has decided to adjust the dates of the 2023 General Election to ensure compliance with the provisions of the new law. Accordingly, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday 25th February 2023 while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold two weeks later on Saturday 11th March 2023. With this adjustment, the 2023 General Election is now 363 days away.
“Under the law, there are critical timebound activities from the publication of Notice of Election to the Conduct of Polls which form the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for elections. Some of the critical activities and their dates of implementation are as follows:
“Publication of Notice of Election – Monday 28th February 2022.
“Conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them – Monday 4th April 2022 to Friday 3rd June 2022.
“Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online portal for Presidential and National Assembly election – 9.00am on Friday 10th June 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 17th June 2022.
“Submission of nomination forms to INEC via the online nomination portal for Governorship and State Assembly elections – 9.00am on Friday 1st July 2022 to 6.00pm on Friday 15th July 2022.
“Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly election – Wednesday 28th September 2022.
“Commencement of Campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – Wednesday 12th October 2022.
“Last day of campaign by political parties for Presidential and National Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 23rd February 2023.
“Last day of campaign by political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections – midnight on Thursday 9th March 2023.
“The detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election will be circulated to the media at the end of this briefing. Soft copies will also be uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms immediately. In addition, the Notice of Election will be published in our offices in all the States of the Federation as required by law on Monday 28th February 2022.
“With the coming into force of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission will work assiduously to conclude and publish new Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections that are consistent with the Act. These Regulations and Guidelines as well as Manuals issued by the Commission are all part of the legal regulatory framework for elections. Their timely publication will enable all stakeholders in the electoral process to become conversant with their provisions as they prepare for the 2023 General Election.
“On this note, I wish to remind stakeholders, especially the political parties, of their responsibility to adhere strictly to the timelines in this Timetable and Schedule of Activities, as well as all other timelines established by the Commission. It is necessary that all political parties comply with the extant legal framework, ensure proper organisation and management of party primaries and the nomination of qualified candidates in order to prevent unnecessary litigations and rancour.”
Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Tuesday revealed how plot to recall and assassinate her was hatched on 12th March, 2025 in Abuja.
Narrating her ordeal when she paid Sallah visit to her Senatorial District in Kogi, the lawmaker who has been suspended for six months by the 10th Senate over alleged breach of Standing Rules of the Senate told the mammoth crowd that Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio got the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello involved to perfect strategies to recall her from the Senate.
She said, the plan took place at Transcorp Hoteon the night of 12th March at about 10pm, where Bello was told to ensure that she was eliminated outside Abuja to avoid suspicion.
She explained:: “Mind you, on the 12th March, 2025 at about 10pm, Godswill Akpabio had called Governor Ododo to tell him that he should commence my recall, but Ododo told him, it will be impossible to do that.
“This is what Governor ododo said on the 12th. Listen. Ododo told him it is impossible because the masses are with her. But Akpabio wasn’t satisfied, he then sent for Yahaya Bello and it was Senator Asuquo from Cross River State that trailed Yahaya Bello from Transcorp Hilton.
“I was told of everything that happened.
They told Yahaya Bello to commence my recall that he was going to fund. Of course, money exchanged hands that night.
“The second thing they told him was that he should try and kill me. I didn’t make this public, but I wrote to the Inspector General of Police.
“Akpabio told Yahaya Bello that killing me doesn’t happen in Abuja. It should happen here (Kogi) so that it will look as if my people killed me here.
“I didn’t make that public, but we did notify security agencies.”
The lawmaker told her constituents that she ws removed as Committee Chairman on Local Contents angrily by the Senate President because of the Liquefied Natural Gas plants she influenced to Ajaokuta.
“Why they removed me as Chairman of Senate Committee on Local Content was because of Gas plants which I influenced. Akpabio called members of his cabinet and questioned them on why the resources found its way here.
“He said I am using Niger Delta resources to promote the North and said he will stop it.
“I will prove to you what he did. After the Senate President removed me, of course it is because of five NLNG projects. He said ever since he made me Chairman of Local Contents, I have used that office to promote the north.”
Six Commissioners and a Local Government Council Chairman have been arrested on the order of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Francis Nwifuru over alleged breach of contracts.
The Chairman Afikpo Local Government Area, Mr. Timothy Nwachi, was suspended from office with immediate effect.
Reports said, the Commissioners were accused of contractual breach in the ongoing construction of 140 housing units for the Izzo and Amaze communities, which were displaced by the Ezilo/Ezza Ezilo communal crisis in Ishielu Local Government Area.
The names of embattled Commissioners are: Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education), Victor Chukwu (Environment), Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism), Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters), Moses Ekuma (Health), and Felix Igboke (Project Monitoring).
They were first declared wanted following their disappearance from the State Executive Committee meeting when the matter became known in the media, and the Ebonyi State immediately launched manhunt before they were eventually arrested.
Commenting on the development, Ilang Donatus, Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on the Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, stated that the action was taken due to the officials’ and contractors’ failure to adhere to contract terms.
Donatus noted that the officials are delaying the housing project, which Governor Nwifuru had planned to commission in celebration of his second anniversary in office.
Donatus emphasised the governor’s frustration over the slow pace of construction, noting that the housing initiative was designed to provide relief to victims of communal crises.
He was quoted as saying, “The governor is not happy over the pace of the work, which ought to have been completed. The government has decided to clamp down on the contractors and commissioners who were mandated to supervise those projects.
“As you can see, our governor is a man with a passionate heart, he likes giving succour, hence the building of those houses for the victims of the communal crisis. He is not happy that the project is delayed and has ordered to arrest of all the commissioners who are supposed to ensure the speedy completion of the housing units.
Adding to the concerns, Mrs. Maria Okohu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilization (Ebonyi Central) and a member of the Executive Council Committee, described the situation as an act of sabotage.
She stressed that failure to complete the housing project on schedule undermines the governor’s development agenda for the state.
In response, the state government has vowed to continue its crackdown, warning that further arrests will be made until all implicated commissioners and contractors are held accountable.
Reports also suggest that the Nigerian police have issued invitations to several officials who were not present during the committee’s enforcement visits.
Upon inquiry, Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, stated that he had no knowledge of the arrest or detention of the accused commissioners and the suspended council chairman.
When questioned about whether the Command had invited the officials following the governor’s directive, the police spokesperson responded, “We don’t have any commissioner in our custody. I’m not aware of any invitation and I have asked and I was told we don’t have any commissioner in custody. I will still ask about the invitation but for now, I don’t know anything of such.”
News
Ododo’s aide escapes assassination by whiskers, allege APC youth leader, Mohammed behind attempt
Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo’s Aide, Hon. Godfrey Adekoye, Senior Special Assistant on Youths Empowerment on Tuesday escaped an assassination attempt on his life by whiskers.
The aide of the Governor said the attack on his life happened at Lounge 1, a popular hospitality joint in Lokoja, added that the attackers followed him down to his house, unfortunately they met his absence.
In a statement he made available to CAPITAL POST in Lokoja, the aide to the Governor accused the Kogi State APC Youth Leader, Hon. Mohammed U Mohammed and one Abubakar Nasara Ola as behind his attack.
He said during the attack on him, Abubakar threatened to kill him, pointed a gun at him before the intervention of onlookers who saved him by chance.
The attackers destroyed and broke the windscreen of his vehicle, that is now parked in the custody of the Quick Response Squad.
Speaking on the attack, Hon. Godfrey said he has since reported the matter to the Quick Response Squad, an arm of the Nigerian Police, in Lokoja, said his life is in danger.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ayah, said he was making efforts to confirm the attack on the aide, could not be reached as at time of going to press.
Akpabio, Bello plot to assasinate me – Natasha gives shocking details
South East: Ebonyi Governor orders arrest of 6 Commissioners, LG Chairman over conract breach
Ododo’s aide escapes assassination by whiskers, allege APC youth leader, Mohammed behind attempt
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