The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the 2023 general elections will commence on February 18, 2023.
He disclosed this on Wednesday at a one-day public hearing on the National Electoral Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill 2021, organised by the Senate Committee on INEC.
According to him, the general elections are one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days from the date of the announcement, hence the need for preparation.
He said, “By the principle established by the Commission, the 2023 general election will hold on Saturday 18th February 2023 which is exactly one year, nine months, two weeks and six days or 660 days from today.
“We hope to release the timetable and schedule of activities for the general election immediately after the Anambra governorship election scheduled to hold on 6th November 2021.
“In order to do so, there should be clarity and certainty about the electoral legal framework to govern the election. We are confident that the National Assembly will do the needful in earnest.”
Yakubu noted that one of the numerous responsibilities carried out by the commission is the prosecution of electoral offenders, describing it as the most challenging duty for INEC.
He lamented the delay in the prosecution of electoral offenders has been one of the most challenging tasks for the Commission since its establishment.
“We look forward to the day when highly placed sponsors of thuggery, including party chieftains and candidates that seek to benefit from violations of the law, are apprehended. We believe that the work of the proposed Commission will help in this regard,” he said.
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