The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is important to have the law that would guide the elections in place at least 12 to 18 months before the exercise (in 2023).
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the presidential election is billed for February 23, 2023.
Recall that on November 19, the national assembly transmitted the electoral act amendment bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent. But Buhari had withheld assent to the bill, stating that the clause recommending direct primary for political parties “violates the spirit of democracy”.
Electronic transmission of election results and compulsory direct primaries for political parties are among the amendments proposed by the national assembly.
Following the president’s rejection of the bill, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a recent interview with Punch, however said, “The commission operates on the basis of the existing legal regime. The commission released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections based on the extant and existing constitutional and electoral legal framework.
“The commission does not operate on the basis of speculation and deductions. Yes, the commission is aware of the pendency of a bill to amend the existing legal regime. That bill is still inchoate and does not become law until it is signed by the President and or the National Assembly determines otherwise.
“Hopefully, issues around the amended law will soon be resolved. It is important to have the legal regime in place at least 12 to 18 months before a major election. It is also important to resolve the issues based on the differential timelines in the existing electoral act and the one that is projected in the bill.”
