By Princess-Ekwi Ajide Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC says the media has important roles to play in the 2023 General elections.
The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who stated this at a town Hall Meeting on Agenda Setting for Democratic Culture organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors urged the media to be abreast with the new electoral law so as to know the changes and their implications.
The INEC Chairman was represented on the occasion by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye, who explained that the new Electoral law has progressive provisions and innovations and strict timelines that must be carefully managed.
According to him, under the new law, the Commission shall issue the Notice of Election not later than 360 days before the date fixed for the conduct of elections and political parties must submit the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates not later than 180 days before the election.
He noted that the Act also provides that new political associations must apply for registration not later than 12 months before a general election while applications for merger must be filed not later than 9 months before election. This invariably means means that no new parties will be accepted except those already in the process.
The law also provides that the election funds due to the Commission for any general elections are to be released to the Commission not later than one year before the next general election.
“The law contains new provisions relating to ballot boxes and voting devices; accreditation of voters; determination of over voting; visually impaired and incapacitated voters; post election procedure and collation of election results.
“It also contains power of the Commission to review declared results; nomination of candidates; limitation of election expenses and the jurisdiction of courts in pre-election matters among other provisions.”
He also stressed that based on law, the entire process for the 2023 elections will take place this year and only the voting will take place in 2023.
