Independent National Electoral Commission announces February 18 for 2023 Presidential poll

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced February 18 as the date for the 2023 Presidential election in Nigeria, which is about 855 days before now.

Penpushing reports that, the Chairman of the electoral body, Mahmood Yakubu made this known on Thursday at the inauguration of the House of Representatives Special Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

The commission boss speaking at the inauguration also urged the lawmakers to ensure the timely review of the present Electoral Act for the use of technologies in the electoral process,and it is on record that, the presidential election comes up every four years as stipulated by the country’s constitution.

Penpushing further reports that, the Commission had conducted the last general election- the Presidential and National Assembly elections  on February 23, 2019, as well as Governorship and State Assembly elections held on March 9, 2019.

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room record has it that, an estimated 626 persons were killed across Nigeria in the six months between the start of the election campaign and the commencement of the general and supplementary elections.

Penpushing also reports that, the electoral body at the recent polls in Edo and Ondo States deployed the use of technology as part of its means in improving the electoral system, and equally engaged over 40 ICT firms for the use of electronic voting and the collation of results.

The commission as part of the innovations provided a dedicated online portal and Result Viewing (IRV), to enable Nigerians view results from polling units in real-time on election days, as well as the use of the Z-pad.

Penpushing reports that  the Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila,in his remarks  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. New challenges emerge daily from every corner. Some of these challenges are of our own making, and others, we could not have foreseen or been prepared for”,he said

“Whichever may be the case, the Nigerian people look up to us as a government to proffer solutions that work, to do the heavy lifting of writing the new constitution, one better suited to our current aspirations and reflecting our vision of the future.”

Penpushing further reports, Nigeria, since its return to civil rule in 1999 has produced four Presidents through the periodically held presidential elections