The electoral umpire in Nigeria, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been receiving kudos for the timely release of the 2019 General Elections timetable. The representatives of some political parties in Nigeria told newsmen that the development would enable the parties to plan well for the coming elections.
For starters, the National Chairman of National Conscience Party, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, said: “I see it as a good step in the right direction for all political parties to be informed early. It will help political parties to start preparing in time. It will also help them to put all machineries in motion. You know it takes time to organise candidates and ensure their forms are ready for submission to INEC”. Tanko advised public office holders to `sit up. Early release of the timetable should put them in check for re-election or handover,’’ he said.
The National Chairman of National Unity Party, Chief Perry Opara, also hailed the timely release of the timetable. “It is very good; politicians and political parties can now plan; nobody will say that he was taken unawares. This is how it is done in civilised countries,’’Opara said.
The Lagos State Secretary of Inter-Party Advisory Council, Mr. Shola Omolola, said that the INEC action would impact positively on the general elections. “It will allow stakeholders to prepare well for the elections; it will ensure that politicians have an action plan for the election. It shows that our democracy is growing in line with international standards – with advanced democracies, where citizens are sure of the electoral calendar,’’Omolola said.
A chieftain of Kano Chapter of All Progressive Congress, Alhaji Musa Umar, commended INEC for being pro-active, saying the move would impact well on Nigeria’s democracy.
It will be recalled that on Tuesday, last week, the INEC fixed presidential and National Assembly primaries for August 18, 2018, and scheduled election campaigns to begin on November 18, 2018.
Governorship and House of Assembly election campaigns will begin on December 1, 2018, while presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on February 16, 2019. Governorship, State Houses of Assembly and FCT elections will hold on March 2, 2019.
While releasing the election schedule, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the timing was aimed at engendering certainty in Nigeria’s electoral calendar. He declared that it would enable all stakeholders to prepare adequately for elections in line with what obtains in the developed democracies.
