The Independent National Electoral Commission, NEC, have fixed November 6, 2021, for the Anambra governorship election.
A signed statement by the National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye indicates that the decision is in compliance with the provision of the electoral Act 2010 as amended.
According to the statement: ” By virtue of Section 178(1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 25(7) & (8) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), election into the office of a State Governor shall hold not earlier than One Hundred and Fifty (150) days and not later than Thirty (30) days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.
” Constitutionally and statutorily, the tenure of the Governor of Anambra State will expire on the 17th March 2022 and the earliest date for the Election into the office of Governor, Anambra State, shall be 18th October 2021 and the latest date for the election shall be 15th February 2022.
‘In the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the Constitution, the Electoral Act and all other powers enabling it in that regard, the Commission has fixed 6th November 2021 as the date for the conduct of the Anambra State Governorship election. Consequently, the Commission hereby issues the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election”, it read.
The commission added that plans in terms of strategies for prosecution of the election ranging from timetable and scheduled of activities, collection of forms and publication of the names of the candidates have all been mapped out for the smooth conduct of the election.
” By the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the Commission will issue the statutory Notice for Election on 9th June 2021. The Collection of Forms EC9 (Formerly CF001) and EC9B (Formerly CF002) for the election will take place on 10th June, 2021 and the conduct of party primaries and resolution of disputes arising from the primaries will take place on 10th June -1st July, 2021. The Personal Particulars of the candidates will be published on 16th July 2021 and the parties will commence campaigns on 8th August 2021. The Final List of Nominated Candidates will be published on 7th October, 2021.
The Commission however urged all the registered political parties to pay close attention to the timelines and schedule of activities outlined in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities as they are constitutional and statutorily provisions.
According to Okoye, all stakeholders are urged to support the Commission’s efforts to strengthen the electoral process, including the deployment of technology to deliver free, fair and credible elections.
