Ahead of the 2015 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released notification to political parties on the scheduled election, stressing however that the election timetable earlier released at the beginning of the year was not different from the notice issued.
Mr. Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, said, in Kano yesterday that the commission was, by virtue of Section 30 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), expected to issue a notice for the election not later than 90 days (October 1) before the date of the elections.
“Notice of 2015 general elections should be published not later than 90 days before the day appointed for holding of an election.
“Under this Act, notice is hereby given that election to the following offices shall hold’’, reads part of the notice.
According to the notice by the electoral umpire, the tenure of office of the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors, except Anambra, Bayelsa, Kogi, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states, and the membership of the national and state assemblies, will expire on May 28 2015.
INEC stated that, “Consequently, the earliest date for the elections into the offices shall be December 29 2014 and the latest day for election shall be April 28, 2015.
“By virtue of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) elections into the said offices shall not hold earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder.”
Meanwhile, the commission has in the notice fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 14, 2015 while governorship and state assemblies’ election will take place on February 28, 2014.
Campaign by political parties for the Presidential and National Assembly elections commences on November 16, 2014, while that of the governorship and State House of Assembly begins on November 30, 2014
The collection of forms for all elections by political parties has been fixed for between November 4 and 11, 2014 for political parties to issue to their candidates at INEC Headquarters.
“Runoff election to the office of the President or Governor of a State (if any) will be held within 7 days after the announcement of the result of the election in accordance” the statement added.
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