The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the next year Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

The Commission added that the governorship and state houses of assembly elections will hold on March 11, 2023.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure at a news conference on the release of the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 General Elections in Abuja on Saturday.

Yakubu said the new date is to allow for conformity with the provisions of the Electoral laws which stipulates that elections notice be published at least 260 days to the elections.

He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari having signed the Electoral Bill 2022 into law made history by making it the fourth time since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in May 1999 that the Electoral Act was repealed and re-enacted.

“You may recall that in 2017, the commission decided to fix dates for general elections in Nigeria. This decision was based on our determination to create certainty in the electoral calendar.

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“It is to also enable all stakeholders in the electoral process, the electoral commission, political parties, and candidates, security agencies, observers, the media among others to prepare adequately for elections.

“By that decision, Presidential and National Assembly election shall hold on the third Saturday of the month of February of each general election year, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly election shall follow two weeks later.

“Consequently, the 2023 General Election was scheduled to commence on February 18, 2023 with the Presidential and National Assembly elections, followed by the governorship and state Houses of Assembly election on March 11, 2023,” the INEC boss said.

TheStar