*Lists innovations, strides in Prof. Yakubu’s leadership
A document obtained by our reporters shows that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has already regularised and set dates for the conduct of general elections in the next 36 years.
The document titled “Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission 2015 – 2025,” which was packaged by the Commission in honour of the Commission’s chairman who is gradually approaching the end of his 10-years tenure as helmsman of the Commission, details several landmark innovations and achievements of the commission during the Prof. Yakubu’s tenure.
According to the document, the commission has through methodical planning, already set down the dates for the conduct of all general elections from 2027 to 2063, ten next general elections, spanning a period of 36 years.
In the document, the next Presidential and National Assembly election will hold on 20th February, 2027, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly election has been slated for 6th March, 2027.
Similarly, the general election coming up in 2031, has been scheduled for 15th February, 2031 for the Presidential and National Assembly election, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly election is slated for 1st March, 2031.
Also, the 2035 Presidential and National Assembly election has been slated for 17th February, 2035, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly election is fixed for 3rd March, 2035.
The 2039 Presidential and National Assembly election is slated for 19th February, 2039, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly election is slated for 5th March, 2039.
The 2043 general elections have been fixed for 21st February, 2043 for the Presidential and National Assembly election, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly election has been fixed for 7th March, 2043.
In the same manner, the 2047 Presidential and National Assembly election is scheduled for 16th February, 2047, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly election is scheduled to hold on 2nd March, 2047.
The next general and National Assembly election after that, which comes up in 2051 has been fixed on the 18th of February 2051 for the Presidential and National Assembly election, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly election is to hold on 4th March, 2051.
The 2055 presidential election has equally been fixed on 20th February, 2055, while the Governorship and State Assembly election will hold on 6th March, 2055.
Similarly, the 2059 Presidential and National Assembly election has been scheduled to hold on the 15th February, 2059, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly election is to hold on 1st of March, 2059.
The last election programmed by the Electoral Management Body is the 2063 general election over which the Presidential and National Assembly election has been fixed to hold on the 17th of February, 2063, while the Governorship and State House of Assembly election for that year will hold on the 3rd of March, 2063.
The document noted that “prior to Prof. Yakubu’s tenure, general election dates in Nigeria were not regular.
“He regularised the dates of general elections and FCT Area Council elections”.
However, by the commitment of the INEC boss, “the general election now holds on the third Saturday in February of the election year for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, and two weeks later for the Governorship and State Assembly elections.
“This has made it possible for all stakeholders to plan well ahead of time and ensure better coordination and readiness by the Commission”.
The document equally noted that under Prof. Yakubu, the Commission introduced the Continuous Accreditation and Voting System (CAVS) to replace the cumbersome process of first completing accreditation before voting.
“CAVS simplifies the voting procedure and addressed the potential disenfranchisement of voters,” it stated.
The document also notes that for the first time since 1996, the Commission successfully expanded voter access to polling units by creating an additional 56,872 new polling units in June, 2021.
