Presidential election holds January 15

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Elections to the office of the president will hold January 15 next year, Nigerianinfo has been informed.

The date is historical because it was on the same date that the military truncated the nation’s first democratic experiment after the 1960 independence.

The military toppled the government of Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa on January 15, 1966. The prime minister, along with several prominent politicians, were killed, and this later precipitated events that led to the 1967 civil war. It is not clear if INEC took cognisance of this fact in deciding the date for the elections.

The actual election kicks off on January 8, with the National Assembly and state houses of assembly elections, while the governorship election is slated for January 22nd.

What the law says

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who declined to be named because the date has not been formally announced, confirmed the date yesterday in Abuja. At least one political party confirmed that the electoral body has notified it about the schedule.

Formally, the electoral body has remained silent on the date, fuelling speculations on the election timetable, which are computed based on the time limit set by the new Electoral Act, signed into law by the president, Goodluck Jonathan, weeks ago. The electoral commission has promised to unveil the timetable this week. Yesterday, at a meeting with Farida Waziri, the chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the INEC chairman, Attahiru Jega, made no mention of the widely anticipated schedule for the crucial elections. However, his media aide, Kayode Idowu, told Nigerianinfo the timetable is expected “soon”.

But officials within the commission said January 15 has been fixed for the start of the elections, which, according to the Electoral Act, begins with the highest office -the presidency- based on the allowance of the Electoral Act which stipulates that polls must be held not earlier than 150 days, and not later than 120 days to the expiration of the current tenure. Based on May 29 termination date for that tenure, the 30 days common to the two limits falls on January next year.

Mr Idowu said the commission is awaiting the release of the date, but refused to state a categorical position. He said it is hoped the announcement will be made soon.

But political parties responding to inquiries yesterday appear to be in the know of the January 15 date. The All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP) acknowledged receiving formal notifications to that schedule.

Work for electoral success

Spokesperson for the party, Emmanuel Eneukwu, said the party has been notified in writing by the commission’s chairman.

“We are aware of that, and we have no option but to work towards it,” he said, when asked if that will be a convenient date for the party. The national publicity secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Lai Mohammed, said his party too, will be satisfied with the date, although he could not confirm being in official receipt of the date.

“Whatever dates the INEC puts,” he said, “we will work towards it, provided they assure there will be free and fair elections.”

However, the All People Grand Alliance (APGA) said it was not aware of the date, but promised to also abide by the schedule too.

“The problem is not the date, but whether INEC will be able to deliver given that date,” said Ifeanacho Oguejiofor, the party’s director of publicity. “We don’t have any problem.”

The official announcement is expected to be made this week. This is expected to heighten preparations by political parties pushing for the polls, which is expected as vital test of the promise for credible elections by Mr Jega.

Mr Jega reaffirmed the commitment at the meeting with Ms Waziri yesterday. He said both commissions will work closely as they draw closer to the elections, but did not state specific areas of collaborations.

Ms Waziri denied media reports that the commission is considering compiling names of persons deemed to be unfit for public office on account of corruption allegations.

“I only see that in the newspapers, but I did not say we will disqualify bad politicians,” adding, “However, if there are areas that we can assist INEC, we will do that, but it must be within the confines of the law.”