The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rejected calls for the re-ordering of the sequence of the 2023 general elections.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter
Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye made this known in an
interview.
A civil society group, Conference of Civil Society of Nigeria, had on
Saturday called on the commission to re-order the election sequence.
The group said the 2023 polls should start with the governorship
elections, and not the presidential election as contained in INEC’s
timetable, noting that the re-ordering of the election sequence is
necessary to avoid any disruption that might arise from the conduct of the presidential poll.
Responding, Okoye said the INEC does not and will not on any account share its constitutional and legal powers with any individual, group, or organization as it is the sole responsibility and prerogative of the commission to organise, undertake and supervise all elections to the offices of the President and Vice President, the governor, and deputy governor of a state, and the membership of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the House of Assembly of each state of the federation.
He added that by the provisions of sections 132(1) and 178(1) of the Constitution, an election to the office of the President and Governor shall be held on a date to be appointed by the INEC in accordance withthe Electoral Act.
