The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that, in preparation of the 2023 election, the final lists of candidates for the offices of president, senator, representative, governor, and state house of assemblies would be released on September 20 and October 4, respectively.
At the "Expert Meeting on Conducting Nigeria's 2023 General Elections in Volatile Security Environment" on Thursday in Abuja, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu made this statement.
The Center for Democracy and Development (CDD), along with INEC, organised the event.
According to Yakubu, the publishing of the final list complied with both the commission's Timetable and Schedule of Activities and Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act of 2022.
”Campaign in public by political parties will officially commence on Sept. 28 as provided for by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
”As campaigns commence, we appeal to all political parties and candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns.
“This is the best way to complement our efforts to ensure transparent elections in which only the votes cast by citizens determine the winner,” he said.
Yakubu said activities for the 2023 General Elections would enter critical stages this month from the next 19 days onward.
“The commission welcomes this initiative and as Co-Chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), there is no doubt that the security agencies also welcome ideas and citizens’ support towards peaceful elections,” he said.
The Director, CDD, Ms Idayat Hassan, said that the meeting was being held against the background of security challenges plaguing the country.
Hassan said the idea was to start talking about how to deescalate the tension and how to secure the environment, such that INEC would be able to assess all parts of the country to conduct a peaceful and legitimate election come 2023.
”I think one for this election, the security of election materials, the security of personnel, the security of voters are in context and there is actually the problem in INEC assessing all areas.
“We should note that this is not just an INEC problem, this is a stakeholder’s problem, insecurity is already prevailing.
“The challenge we are having is how to do we conduct election against the background of this prevailing insecurity? It will behold on the federal government and other stakeholders to come in.”
Mr Chris Pycroft, the Development Director, Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), said that the office was delighted to be partnering with CDD and providing funding for the event and related activity to promote peaceful and secure elections in 2023.
According to Pycroft, this is a top priority for the UK in Nigeria over the coming six months, and one of the multiple initiatives in partnership with Nigerian and international stakeholders.
”The stakes have never felt higher. Nigeria is facing more challenges than ever before in its democratic history to run a peaceful and secure election.
“These elections are profoundly important not only for Nigeria but also for the African continent and democracy across the world, “he said.
Pycroft said there was more at stake in terms of the unity and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria’s diverse religious, ethnic, and cultural communities.
Prof. Adebayo Olukoshi, Election Expert, CDD, said that Nigeria was challenged with several security challenges and there was a need to seek ways to curb them before the election.
Olukoshi said that there was also the need to understand the various conflicts being faced with a view to developing a topology that would best address them.