INEC: No 2023 election timetable without new Electoral Act

The nation’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it won’t release the 2023 general election timetable until the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is signed into law.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the revelation on Tuesday in Abuja, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political parties.

His words: “On the Electoral Amendment Bill currently before the National Assembly, the Commission is encouraged by the Senate President’s assurance to give priority attention to the Bill when the National Assembly reconvenes from its recess today, and the commitment by the President to assent to the Bill as soon as the issue of mode of primaries by political parties is resolved. We look forward to a speedy passage of the Bill, which is crucial to our preparations for future elections.

“As soon as it is signed into law, the Commission will quickly release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election based on the new law.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had recently rejected the bill on account of the inclusion of mandatory direct primaries for the conduct of primary election.

Details later….