INEC sets September 28 as the start date for open campaigns in 2023

Adeleye Kunle Reports

Political parties will be able to launch open campaigns on September 28, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), TrackNews Nigeria reports.

The electoral umpire intends to release the final list of candidates for next year’s presidential, senatorial, and House of Representatives elections on September 20.

The publication of the candidates’ list ahead of the national election, according to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, is in accordance with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

He stated that the final list for governorship and House of Assembly elections would be released on October 4.

Prof Yakubu spoke in Abuja at an event co-hosted by the commission and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) on “Conducting Elections in a Volatile Security Environment.”

He stated that preparations for the 2023 general election will reach a tipping point this month.

Yakubu went on to say that the engagement was necessitated by the country’s volatile security situation and its implications for the upcoming elections.

“Activities leading up to the 2023 general election will reach a tipping point this month,” he said. The Commission will publish the final list of candidates for national elections (Presidential, Senatorial, and House of Representatives) in the next 19 days (specifically on September 20, 2022), as provided in Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, as well as the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the Commission.

“Public campaigning by political parties will officially begin on September 28, 2022, as provided by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.”

“As campaigns begin, we urge all political parties and candidates to run issue-based campaigns.” This is the most effective way to supplement our efforts to ensure transparent elections in which only citizens’ votes determine the winner.

“I have no doubt that today’s meeting meets the twin requirements of relevance and timeliness.” The meeting is important due to the volatile security situation in some parts of the country, as well as the implications for the upcoming elections.

“It is timely because the election is quickly approaching, but there is still time to address security concerns.”

“Most appropriately, I believe that specific recommendations will be made to further enrich our understanding of the security issues in the upcoming election, the various dimensions of the challenges, and, most importantly, possible measures to respond to them to ensure that elections are held peacefully nationwide as required by law.”

“As Co-Chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), the Commission welcomes this initiative, and there is no doubt that the security agencies welcome ideas and citizens’ support for peaceful elections.”

“After all, the Inspector-General of Police recently organized a nationwide capacity-building exercise for police personnel on election security.”

“The police were motivated not only by the same concern of ensuring a secure environment for the election, but also by the desire to improve the professionalism of police personnel on election duty.”