The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the timetable for the 2015 general elections, as well as the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.
In a statement released in Abuja late Friday night, INEC fixed the presidential and National Assembly elections for 14th February 2015. The statement, signed by Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, also listed the state assembly and governorship elections for 38th February 2015. Governorship election in Ekiti would hold on 21st June 2014 while that of Osun would hold on 9th August 2014.
Ogakwu disclosed that the plans were finalised at the retreat of the commission in Kaduna, which held from Tuesday to Friday, and that the release was issued pursuant to the powers conferred on the commission by the Constitution and the Electoral Act (2010) as amended. However, the statement made no mention of the date when politicians are free to declare their interest in contesting for any of the offices.
But according to Section 31 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, Every political party shall not later than 60 days before the date appointed for the general election under the provisions of this Act, submit to the Commission in the prescribed forms list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has already reacted to INEC’s time table by declaring its readiness for the election, saying it remains confident of securing victory in the presidential election while winning more states to raise the number of states in its grip beyond the current 18.
“We are ready for the elections as shown by the timetable released by the commission. We are sure of winning the presidential election and I can also tell you that we are going to win more states”, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh said.
“I’m not sure whether the opposition will not ask its members to boycott the elections because they know that they are going to lose. But as for us, we are sure of winning more states and more seats at both the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly”.
However, National Chairman of Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu said the party is still studying the timetable and it will be discussed in the coming days. However, he criticised INEC’s plan to stage the presidential election before the governorship election.
In Osun State, both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed confidence in winning the election that will see Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola vie for a second term in office.
In Ekiti, Chief Press Secretary to Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Yinka Oyebode noted that the election will determine the progress or retrogression of the state.
“We know that the people of the state desire forward movement, and that they appreciate the immense contributions of the governor to the development of the state”, he said.
“We urge INEC to do everything needed to ensure a free, fair and credible election. We want to also appeal to the people of the state to remain as peaceful as they have always been and to cast their votes wisely”.
However, a PDP governorship aspirant in the state, Chief Dayo Adeyeye, maintained that APC would lose.
“We need to liberate the state from the plundering APC”, he said. “I’m personally very prepared. The party is united and has agreed that whosoever is picked as candidate will be supported by all the other aspirants”.
