The uncertainty surrounding the timetable for the 2011 polls ended last night as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the dates for the general election.
Following the calendar of activities and timetable for the polls, the presidential election will take place on April 9, 2011.
It will, however, be preceded by the National Assembly election, which holds on April 2, while governorship and the state assembly elections will take place on April 16.
The order of election, which begins with the National Assembly poll and ends with governorship and state legislative polls is in accordance with the provision of the 2010 Electoral Act.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, released the timetable and schedule of activities towards the election late yesterday in Abuja.
The timetable was drawn in line with the alterations to the amended 1999 Constitution which had given the commission up till April for the 2011 polls.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had, however, recently knocked the bottom off the amended constitution, saying President Goodluck Jonathan must assent to the amendments before they could be legal.
According to the INEC timetable, political parties are expected to hold their primary elections between November 26 this year and January 15, 2011.
Registration of voters is expected to take place between January 15 and 29 next year, while claims and objections to the new voter register are expected to take place between February 3 and February 8 next year.
The schedule of activities for the 2011 general election started with the issuances of notice of polls which was slated for yesterday, November 23, 2010.
Campaigns by political parties and candidates are expected to commence on December 1, 2010, in accordance with Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010.
Also, collection of forms CF001 (affidavit and personal particulars of candidates) and CF002 (list of candidates) for all elections are to take place between December 15 and 22, 2010.
This, Jega said, is in line with Section 87 of the 2010 Electoral Act.The last day for the submission of forms CF001 and CF002 to the commission by political parties is January 31, 2011, while the publication of the personal particulars of candidates is scheduled for February 6, 2011.
The last date for the withdrawal/substitution of candidates by political parties is February 14, 2011.Jega also said collection of nomination forms would take place from February 7 to 10, 2011 while the last day for the submission of forms by the political parties would be February 21.
The INEC chairman said the last day for the withdrawal/substitution of withdrawn candidates for the presidential election is February 21, 2011.
He also said the last day for the withdrawal and substitution of withdrawn governorship candidates in line with Section 535(1) of the 2010 Electoral Act is February 28.
According to the INEC chairman, the date for the publication of personal particulars of substituted candidates (Form CF001 and CF002) is February 21 2011.
Also, the publication of the official register of the voters for the election will be on March 2, 2011, while the dates for the publication of list of nominated candidates for the National Assembly poll in line with Section 34 of the Electoral Act 2010 will be from March 2 to 16 2011.
The notice of poll will be given on March 15, 2011.According to the INEC chairman, the submissions of names of party agents to the Resident Electoral Commissions will be on March 25.
The last dates for campaigns for the National Assembly election is April 1, 2011; for the presidential election, April 8, while it will be April 15, 2011 for the governorship and state house of assembly elections.
Jega said run-off election if any either in respect of the presidential or governorship poll would take place within seven days after the announcement of the result of that election.
The Revised Timetable
Primaries: November 26-January 16
Voter Registration: January 15-29
National Assembly: April 2
Presidential: April 9
Governorship/House of Assembly: April 16
allAfrica.com: Nigeria: Presidential Poll Now Holds April 9 (http://allafrica.com/stories/201011240030.html)