THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Abuja, on Tuesday released a new timetable for the conduct of the 2011 general election.
Releasing the schedule of electoral activities, INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, said presidential election would be held on April 9 while elections into the National Assembly would be held on April 2, 2011.
Jega told newsmen that governorship and state houses of assembly elections would be held on April 16.
He said: ``In accordance with Electoral Act 2010, the conduct of party primaries by political parties is to hold from November 26 to January 15, 2011 as provided by section 87 of Electoral Act 2010.''
Registration of voters holds from January 15 to 29, 2011 and display of voter register for claims and objections is between February 3 and 8, 2011.
Last date of submission of forms CF001 and CF002 at the national headquarters of the commission is January 31, 2011.
Publication of personal particulars of candidates comes up on February 6.
Last day for withdrawal by candidates and substitution of withdrawn candidates by political parties for National Assembly elections is February 14, 2011.
He explained that the deadline of withdrawal by candidates and their substitution by political parties, for the presidential election would be February 21, 2011.
According to Jega, deadline for the withdrawal of candidates and their substitution by political parties for governor/state assembly election is February 28.
The commission fixed February 21 for publication of personal particulars (CF001) of substituted candidates.
According to the timetable, collection of nomination forms will start from February 7 and end on February 10, while the deadline for submission of nomination forms by political parties is February 21.
The date for publication of official voter register for election is March 2, while publication of list of nominated candidate for National Assembly Elections is from March 2 to 16, 2011.
Publication of notice of polls is fixed for March 18 and submission of names of party agents to the Resident Electoral Commissioners is March 25, 2011.
Jega said the deadline for campaigns for National Assembly Election was April 1, while campaigns for presidential election would cease on April 8.
The last day for campaigns into governorship and state assembly elections is April 15, 2011.
Jega said that run off elections into the office of governor of a state and office of the president, if any, would be held within seven days after the announcement of the affected result.
He added that the new timetable superceded the earlier one issued by the commission.
“There shall be no campaign 24 hours before and on the date of elections which are April 2, 9 and 16,” he said.
