Governors angry over INEC Time Table …May go to Court

Prof. Attahiru Jega, INEC Chairman
Anti President Goodluck Jonathan Governors in the North are spoiling for war and vowing to use whatever means available to stop the Independent national Electoral Commission, INEC, from holding the presidential elections ahead of the Governorship elections in 2011.

INEC had just made public the time-table for the 2011 General elections.

According to the schedule of elections, National Assembly elections will take place on January 15, 2011 while the Presidential election will take place on January 22 nd. Governorship and State Assembly election is scheduled for January 29 th, 2011.

However, the Anti Jonathan Governors in the North believe that the elections as scheduled by INEC would give “undue advantage to President Goodluck Jonathan if he decides to run for the presidential elections.

A Governor from the North who has been very vocal against President Jonathan running for the presidential elections, told Pointblanknews.com that “we are not pleased with the dates and we can see that INEC is already favoring the president because from the time-table it means that the presidential election comes before the Governorship and if that happens, Governors who do not support Jonathan would have to be forced to do so if they want to return.”

According to the Governor who does not want his name mentioned, “we are going to study the time-table and see but be rest assured that we would explore every possible means to correct this even if it means going to court.

He argued that “if we cannot get the court to stop it, we would mobilize our people to ensure that the North retain power by all means in 2011 and me and the rest of us here in the North will not rest until we secure our rights,” the Governor said in an enraged tone of voice.

But a legal analyst who spoke to Pointblanknews.com argued that since INEC is constitutionally empowered to carry out elections “it would be a waste of time and a distraction if they (Governors) resort to legal actions to stop INEC.”

See below details of the INEC's election Time-Table

INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
TIME TABLE OF ACTIVITIES FOR 2011 GENERAL ELECTIONS

S/N
ACTIVITY
DATE
REMARKS

1
Conduct of  Party primaries
11 th September, 2010  –
    30 th October, 2010
 
To enable Political Parties democratically nominate candidates for the elections as required by Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010

2
Issuance of Notice of election 
13 th October, 2010
Section 30 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 provides not later than 90 days before the election.

3
Campaign by Political Parties in public commences

17 th October, 2010
 
Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 provides 90 days before polling day.

4
Collection of Form CF001   (Affidavit/Personal particulars of candidates) and Form CF002 (Party's list of candidates) for all elections.

 
19 th October, 2010  –                   
         22 nd   October, 2010
 
No provision in the Electoral Act, 2010.

5
 
Registration of Voters
1 st November 2010   –  
        14 th November 2010
Pursuant to Section 9(5)  of the Electoral Act, 2010

6
Display of Register of Voters for claims and objections.

 
 
  20 st November2010  –
25 th November, 2010
Pursuant to Section 19(1)  of the Electoral Act, 2010

7
 
 
(a)
(b)
(c)
Last day for submission of Forms CF001 and CF002 at the National Headquarters of the Commission

National Assembly Elections
Presidential Election
Governorship/State Assembly Elections
 
 
 
15 th November, 2010
22 nd November, 2010
29 th  November, 2010
Section 31(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 provides for not later than 60 days before the election.

8
 
(a)
(b)
(c)
Publication of personal particulars of candidates. (CF001)

National Assembly Elections
Presidential Election
Governorship/State Assembly Elections
 
 
22 nd November, 2010
29 th November, 2010
6 th December, 2010
Section 31(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010 provides for publication within 7 days of the receipt of the form CF001

9
 
 
(a)
(b)
(c)
Last day for withdrawal by candidates/Substitution of withdrawn candidate by Political Parties

National Assembly Elections
Presidential Election
Governorship/State Assembly Elections
 
 
 
         30 th  November, 2010
7 th December, 2010
  14 th December, 2010
Section 35(1) of Electoral Act, 2010 provides not later than 45 days to the election.

10
Publication of official Register of voters for the elections.

16 th December, 2010
 
Section 20 of the Electoral Act, 2010 provides not later than 30 days before the election.

11
 
(a)
(b)
(c)
Publication of personal particulars (CF001) of substitute candidates

National Assembly Elections
Presidential Election
Governorship/State Assembly Elections
 
 
4 th December, 2010
 11 th   December, 2010
18 th December, 2010
Section 32(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010 provides for publication  within 7 days of the receipt of the form CF001

12
Collection of Nomination forms
 
22 nd  – 25 th   November, 2010
No provision in the Electoral Act, 2010.

13
 
(a)
(b)
(c)
Last day for the submission of Nomination forms by Political Parties

National Assembly Elections
Presidential Election
Governorship/State Assembly Elections
 
 
4 th December, 2010
7 th December, 2010
   10 th & 11 th December, 2010
No provision in the Electoral Act, 2010.

14
(a)
(b)
(c)
Publication of list of nominated candidates.
National Assembly Elections
Presidential Election
Governorship/State Assembly Elections
 
16 th December, 2010
23 rd December, 2010
30 th December, 2010
Section 34 of the Electoral Act, 2010 provides at least 30 days before the day of election.

15
(a)
(b)
(c)
Publication of Notice of poll for:
National Assembly Elections
Presidential Election
Governorship/State Assembly Elections
 
31 st December, 2010
8 th January, 2011
      15 th January, 2011
Section 46 of the Electoral Act, 2010 provides not later than 14 days before the election.

16
 
(a)
(b)
(c)
Submission of names of Party Agents to the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECS.)

National Assembly Elections
Presidential Election
Governorship/State Assembly Elections
 
 
8 th January, 2011
     15 th January, 2011
   22 nd January, 2011
Section 45 of the Electoral Act, 2010. Provides not later than 7 days before the election.

17
(a)
(b)
 
Last day/time for campaigns
National Assembly Elections
Presidential Election
Governorship/State Assembly Elections
 
14 th January, 2011
21 st January, 2011
28 th January, 2011
Section 99(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 prohibits Advertisements or broadcasts of campaigns 24 hours prior to the day of election.

18
(a)
(b)
(c)
Date of election
National Assembly Elections
Presidential Election
Governorship/State Assembly Elections
 
15 th January, 2011
22 nd January, 2011
29 th January, 2011
By Sections 76, 178, 116 and 132 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and Section 26 of the Electoral Act, 2010, dates of elections to be appointed by the Commission.

Note: Run offs for Governorship and Presidential Elections (if any) will be held within 7 days after the announcement of the result of the respective elections. Section 179 (4) and (5) and Section 134 (4) and (5) respectively of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.