INEC Unveils 2019 Election Timetable, Presidential, NASS Polls Hold Feb 16, 2019

Guber Polls For Mar. 2

Photo Caption: INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu swearing in the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) from Kebbi State Dr. Mahmuda Isah on Tuesday, January 9, 2018.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, released an updated timetable for the conduct of the 2019 general elections, showing that the Presidential and National Assembly polls hold on February 16; that of 29 state governors and 36 State Houses of Assembly follow on March 2, 2019.
This means, according to the commission’s chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu: “Today, it is exactly 402 days to the opening of polling units nationwide at 8am on Saturday 16th February 2019.Let us all join hands to make 2019 our best election ever.”
Ahead of the polls, according to the schedule of activities signed by Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, Secretary to the Commission, Presidential and NASS campaign activities shall end on February 14; and governorship and House of Assembly shall cease on February 28.
In the event of a stalemate, “run-off elections to the office of the President or Governor of a state (if any) will hold within seven days after the announcement of the result of the election in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
Party primaries and resolution of disputes arising from the primaries, according to the timetable, are to be conducted between August18 and October 7, 2018.
This, it said, would “enable political parties democratically nominate candidates for the election as required by Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).”
Presidential and National Assembly campaign activities by political parties would thereafter commence on November 18, while that of governorship and House of Assembly candidates begin on December 1, 2018, being 90 days before the polling date as stipulated by Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).
The political parties are required to submit nomination forms of their presidential and NASS candidates on, or before December 3 and those of governorship and Houses of Assembly on December 17, 2018.
Official register of voters for the election are to be published on January 7, 2019, and publication of the list of nominated candidates on January 17, 2019 for Presidential and NASS elections; while that of governorship and state assemblies will be on January 31.
The INEC notice stated that the gubernatorial elections would hold except in Anambra, Bayelsa, Kogi, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States, in line with provision of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, Prof. Yakubu said the timetable is in line with the commission’s resolve to henceforth hold Presidential and NASS elections “on the third Saturday of the Month of February of each election year, while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold two weeks later.”
Also, he continued, “since the end of the tenure of FCT chairmen and councilors will end in 2019, the Area Council elections will also hold on Saturday 2nd March 2019. Consequently, while other Nigerians elect their governors and members of state assemblies, citizens in FCT will elect chairmen and councilors for the area councils.”
The chairman urged all stakeholders to support and cooperate with the commission to ensure success, reminding political parties and candidates, among others “that election is a process governed by law.”
This is why, he continued, the commission expects full adherence to the provisions of the constitution and Electoral Act which form the basis of the detailed timetable and schedule of activities.

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