The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, 16th February, while the Governorship and State Assembly/Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council elections have been scheduled for Saturday, 2nd March 2019.
This was disclosed by he Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Prince Solomon Soyebi, at a press conference held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. Excerpts of the briefing were posted on the commission’s website.
Prince Soyebi pointed out that the Commission believed that there should be certainty with regards to the timetable for elections as obtained in other countries with advanced democracies. Said he: “in order to ensure certainty in our dates for Political Parties, Security Agencies, candidates and all stakeholders, the Commission has decided to fix the date for the National Elections for the third Saturday in February of the election year, followed by State elections two weeks later”.
He continued: “to that extent, the 2019 Presidential and National Assembly Elections will hold on Saturday, 16thFebruary 2019, while the Governorship/State Assembly/Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections will hold on Saturday 2nd March 2019”.
The 2015 Governorship and State Assembly elections were held on March 28 2015, while Presidential and National Assembly elections held on April 11 2015. Initially billed for February 14 and 28, they were shifted to March due to security concerns especially in the North East.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was established by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to among other things organize elections into various political offices in the country.
