The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced Saturday, February 18 as the official date for the 2023 presidential elections that would mark the exit of incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, introducing Nigeria to a new leader.
According to TheCable, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, made this known at the inauguration of the House of Representatives Special Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution held at the National Assembly Complex, in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
The commission had previously conducted the last general election in 2019, with the presidential and National Assembly polls taking place on February 23, while governorship and state assembly elections were held on March 9 of the same year.
Local and International observers had described the elections as violent, with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room recording an estimated casualty number of 626 persons between the start of the elections campaign and the commencement of the general and supplementary elections.
2020 Elections So Far
As Nigeria prepares for its next general election, election umpire, INEC, has shown interest in diversifying the election process to encourage the utilization of election technology. The commission had deployed the use of technology in the recent past Edo and Ondo governorship elections as part of its means in improving the electoral system.
Another event saw the commission introduce a dedicated online portal and INEC Result Viewing channel to help Nigerians view polling results in real-time on election days, as well as the new Z-pad.
Electoral Act Is Important
The commissioner also urged members of the lower chambers of the house to quickly review the present Electoral Act, to ensure the introduction of more technology, as Nigerians had less than 800 days.
.In his remarks, the speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the constitution review is important to “identify those areas where the laws of our land have not lived up to expectations” and fix the gaps. “We are commencing this constitutional review process at a time of great and ongoing upheaval in our country,” he said.
So far, Nigeria has had a total of four presidents since it crossed into democratic rule. Each president is allowed two terms only.
This story is part of our new series on Nigeria where we analyse electoral and political reform in the country ahead of the next general elections in 2023.
