By Ezeocha Nzeh
As political parties and candidates await the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to know the final list of their candidates ahead of the 2023 presidential election, INEC has disclosed that the final list of candidates for Presidential, Senate, House of Representatives, and Governorship candidates alongside State Houses of Assembly will be published on September 20th and October 4th respectively.INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the ”Expert Meeting on Conducting Nigeria’s 2023 General Elections in Volatile Security Environment,” said that the publication of the final list was in line with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the commission.
The event was organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in conjunction with INEC.
It would be recalled that most political parties are currently faced with dilemma of identifying who their authentic candidates for both the governorship and National assembly elections in some states
Some of the states where this dilemma have persisted included Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross Rivers, Ebonyi, Kano, Plateau, Yobe and others
”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, who noted that activities for the 2023 General Elections would enter critical stages this month from the next 19 days onward, explained further that “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, adding that 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, and 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.”
In his remarks CDD Development Director, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Chris Pycroft, 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.
He noted that the idea 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.
