Nigeria is gearing up for the 2023 General Election that will determine who will lead the country over the next four years. In this article, we’ll explore all aspects of the upcoming election, including the date and arrangements currently being made to ensure it runs as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Dive into this article to get an overview of everything you need to know about the 2023 General Election in Nigeria.
Overview of the 2023 General Election in Nigeria
The 2023 general election in Nigeria is set to take place on February 16th. This will be the first national election since the country’s independence in 1960. The election will be conducted using a system of proportional representation.
There are two main political parties in Nigeria: the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC is currently in power, having won the last general election in 2015. However, the PDP has controled the presidency for the majority of Nigeria’s post-independence history.
The 2023 general election is shaping up to be a close contest between these two parties. It is unclear which party will win at this point, but it is sure to be a close race.
presidential candidates for 2023 elections in nigeria
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections. According to the timetable, presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 26, 2023 while state governorship and House of Assembly elections will take place on March 4, 2023.
The date for the conduct of primaries by political parties has been slated for between June 2 and July 29, 2023. INEC has also fixed December 24,2022 as the deadline for the submission of list of party candidates and January 14, 2023 as the date for publication of final list of candidates.
Date and Timetable of 2023 Elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the much-anticipated general elections will take place on February 26, 2023. The presidential and parliamentary elections will be held concurrently, with voting commencing at 8 am and closing at 4 pm.
Over 84 million Nigerians are registered to vote, with approximately 60% of registered voters being under the age of 35. INEC has stated that there are 360 political parties participating in the election, with over 5,500 candidates vying for president.
The main political parties in Nigeria are the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).Both parties have been successful in winning presidential and National Assembly elections since 1999. The APC currently has the majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
campaigning for the 2023 general elections is expected to begin early next year. The INEC has said that it will release a timetable for the elections in due course.
Rules and Regulations Governing the Election
1.1 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the body charged with the responsibility of conducting elections in Nigeria.
1.2 INEC is empowered by the Nigerian Constitution to organize, conduct and supervise all elections in Nigeria, including presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.
1.3 INEC is also responsible for registering political parties and candidates, as well as setting election timetables and announcing results.
1.4 All eligible Nigerian citizens aged 18 years and above are registered by INEC as voters.
1.5 To be eligible to contest in an election, a person must be a Nigerian citizen, aged 18 years or older, and a resident of the constituency where he or she is seeking to be elected.
1.6 Candidates for president must also possess a university degree or its equivalent.
1.7 Elections in Nigeria are generally held every four years, on a date determined by INEC. The most recent general election was held on March 28, 2015.
Political Parties Involved in the Election
There are two dominant political parties in Nigeria- the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The APC is the ruling party, having taken power from the PDP after 16 years in 2015. The election will be a close contest between these two parties.
Other political parties that will be contesting include:
-the African Democratic Congress (ADC)
-the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN)
-the Young Progressive Party (YPP)
-the Labour Party (LP)
– Action Democratic Party (ADP)
and about 70 other small political parties.
Technology Used in the Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the 2019 general elections will be conducted using a new vote casting system. This system, which was first used in the Anambra State gubernatorial election in 2017, is an electronic voting system that uses fingerprint recognition to verify voters.
In order to use the new system, each voter must have their finger scanned at their polling station. Once their identity is verified, they will be able to cast their vote by selecting their preferred candidate on a touch screen. The votes will then be stored electronically on a central server.
INEC has said that the new system will improve the transparency and accuracy of the electoral process. It will also help to reduce voter fraud and manipulation, as well as make it easier for people with disabilities to cast their vote.
Eligibility Requirements for Voting
To be eligible to vote in the Nigerian general election, you must be:
-A Nigerian citizen by birth or naturalization
-At least 18 years old on the day of the election
-A resident of Nigeria for at least 12 months preceding the election
-Registered as a voter with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
If you meet all of the above requirements, you can then participate in the Nigerian general election!
Cost Implications of Running for Office
The cost of running for office in Nigeria’s general election can be significant. Candidates must pay a filing fee and a deposit, as well as campaign expenses. The total cost can vary depending on the office sought and the candidate’s fundraising ability.
Filing fees:
All candidates wishing to contest in the general elections must pay a filing fee. For presidential candidates, the fee is ₦45,000 (about US$125). For senatorial or gubernatorial candidates, the fee is ₦22,500 (about US$63). These fees are non-refundable.
Deposits:
In addition to the filing fee, candidates must also pay a deposit. The deposit is ₦1 million (about US$2,800) for presidential candidates, ₦100,000 (about US$280) for senatorial candidates, and ₦50,000 (about US$140) for gubernatorial candidates. This deposit is refundable if the candidate earns more than 25% of the vote.
Campaign expenses:
Candidates will also incur costs related to campaigning. These can include travel costs, advertising and branding expenses, rallies and events, staff salaries, and more. The total cost of campaigning can vary greatly depending on the office sought and the candidate’s fundraising ability. For example, Senate President Bukola Saraki spent over ₦1 billion (US$2.8 million) on his
Security Measures Put into Place for the Election
In order to ensure the safety of all those involved in Nigeria’s general election, a number of security measures have been put into place. These include:
-Increasing the number of security personnel deployed across the country, both military and police
-Strictly enforcing entry and exit points into and out of Nigeria
-Conducting thorough background checks on all candidates and political party officials
-Working closely with international partners to share intelligence and best practices
By taking these precautions, we can create a safe and secure environment for all Nigerians to exercise their right to vote.
Dissemination of Results After Polling Day
Once the votes have been counted and the results announced, they will be disseminated to the public. This can happen in a number of ways, including through the media, social media, and at polling stations.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is responsible for ensuring that the results of the election are made available to all Nigerians. They will do this by working with the media to ensure that results are broadcast as soon as possible after Polling Day. INEC will also provide updates on their website and social media channels.
If you’re not able to follow the live coverage of the results, don’t worry – there will be plenty of ways to catch up afterwards. All of the main news networks in Nigeria will be broadcasting highlights of the election results, so you’ll be able to stay up-to-date with what’s happening. You can also find out how your candidate fared by checking the results boards at your local polling station.
It’s clear that the 2023 General Election in Nigeria will be an important milestone for the country and its citizens. We hope that this article has provided you with all of the necessary information about the date and arrangements for the election and helped to prepare you for participating in it. With everything now on track, let us focus our energy on promoting democracy by exercising our right to vote!