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2019: INEC Releases Election Details …Says Parties Must Present Presidential Candidate, Dec 3
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued the time table and schedule of activities for the 2019 general elections, fixing the conduct of party primaries including the resolution of disputes arising from primaries for August 18, 2018 to October 7, 2018, for national and state elections while that of the FCT Area Council is slated for between September 4, and October 27, 2018.
Speaking with journalists, yesterday, in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said the commission arrived at the schedule of activities after its meeting held on the same day.
INEC equally said it would go ahead with its earlier plan to conduct the Anambra Central election on January 13.
“We are going by the orders of the Court of Appeal that INEC should conduct a fresh election within 90 days and the position of the court has not changed. So, there will be elections in Anambra Central on January 13, 2018”, Yakubu stated.
According to him, “The Publication of Notice of Election for National and State Elections would be on August 17, 2018 while that of the FCT Area Council Elections would be done on September 3, 2018. Collection of nomination forms by political parties for national and state elections begins from August 11 to 24 while that of the FCT Area Council elections would be between November 3 and 10, 2018. Commencement of campaign by political parties would be November 18 for.
“Presidential and National Assembly Elections; December 1, for Governorship and State Assembly elections and December 2, for the FCT Area Council elections. The last day for the submission of nomination forms to INEC is December 3, 2018, for Presidential and National Assembly Elections; December 17, for Governorship and State Assembly and December 14, 2018 for the FCT Area Council Elections.
“INEC equally fixed the last day for campaigns for February 14, 2019, for Presidential and National Assembly Elections as well as February 28, 2018, for Governorship, State Assembly and FCT Area Council Elections.
“Today, it is exactly 402 days to the opening of polling units nationwide at 8am on Saturday 16th February 2019. As political parties and candidates canvass the support of the electorate, the Commission wishes to appeal to all and sundry to eschew bitterness and conduct their activities with decorum. The 2015 General Election was a watershed in the history of our democracy. The Commission is determined to build on this legacy by ensuring that our elections keep getting better”, Yakubu pledged.
INEC had on March 9, 2017, announced the dates for the 2019 General Elections.
“In a clear departure from past practice when dates were announced close to elections, the Commission decided that henceforth our Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on the 3rd Saturday of the month of February of each election year, while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold two weeks later.
“When the end of tenure of the FCT Area Councils coincide with the general election, the FCT Council elections are to be combined with the Governorship and State Assembly elections. By these decisions, the Commission fixed Saturday, 16th February, 2019, as the date for Presidential and National Assembly elections while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 2nd March, 2019.
“Since the end of tenure of FCT Chairmen and Councillors will end in 2019, the Area Council elections will also hold on Saturday 2nld March 2019.
“Consequently, while other Nigerians elect their Governors and Members of State Assemblies, citizens in the FCT will elect Chairmen and Councillors for the Area Councils”, the INEC boss recalled.
According to him, the decision of the commission to fix election dates is to engender certainty in the nation’s electoral calendar and to enable all stakeholders to prepare adequately for elections, as is the case in many mature and developing democracies.
“Already, the commission has concluded its Strategic Plan and the Strategic Plan of Action for the current electoral cycle and beyond covering the period 2017-2021 as well as Election Project Plan. The commission is moving away from the culture of quick fix, tire brigade approach to the management of elections in Nigeria.
“As our democracy matures, the planning and implementation of electoral activities should be predictable and systematic. This is all the more pertinent given the size and population of the country, the terrain, logistical requirements, the increasing number of political parties, security challenges and number of constituencies for which elections are to be held.
“For instance, in 2019 the commission will conduct elections for 1,558 Constituencies made up of one Presidential Constituency, 29 Governorship constituencies out of 36 (7 Governorship elections are staggered and conducted off-cycle), 109 Senatorial Districts, 360 Federal Constituencies, 991 State Assembly Constituencies, 6 Area Council Chairmen as well as 62 Councillorship positions for the FCT”, Yakubu added.
He said INEC will today also issue certificates of registration to 21 new political parties who were registered last month.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has declared that parties must submit names of candidates for Presidential and National Assembly elections by December 3, 2018.
Unveiling timetable and schedule of activities for 2019 general elections, yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja, INEC chairman, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, also gave December 17, 2018, as the final date for submission of nomination forms for candidates for the governorship and State Assembly elections.
The final list of candidates for the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections which will hold simultaneously with national assembly and governorship elections must also reach the Commission by December 14, 2018.
Giving further insight into the timetable, Professor Yakubu said collection of nomination forms by political parties for presidential, governorship, national and state assembly elections must be done between 11th-24th August 2018.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from such primaries for national and state elections must be concluded between 18th August-7th October 2018.
He further revealed that political parties would be allowed to commence the campaign for votes, starting with presidential and national assembly candidates on 18th November 2018. Candidates for the governorship and state assembly will also be given same liberty, effective from December 1, 2018.
The INEC chairman also restated the reason why his Commission gave 16th February 2019 as the date for conduct for presidential and national assembly elections, while governorship and state assembly would hold on 2nd March 2019 .
‘’The decision of the Commission to fix election dates is to engender certainty in our electoral calendar and to enable all stakeholders to prepare adequately for elections, as is the case in many mature and developing democracies. Already, the Commission has concluded its Strategic Plan and the Strategic Plan of Action for the current electoral cycle and beyond covering the period 2017-2021 as well as Election Project Plan.
‘’The Commission is moving away from the culture of quick fix, fire brigade approach to the management of elections in Nigeria. This is all the more pertinent given the size and population of the country, the terrain, logistical requirements, the increasing number of political parties, security challenges and the number of constituencies for which elections are to be held. For instance, in 2019 the Commission will conduct elections for 1,558 Constituencies made up of one Presidential Constituency, 29 Governorship constituencies out of 36 (7 Governorship elections are staggered and conducted off-cycle), 109 Senatorial Districts, 360 Federal Constituencies, 991 State Assembly Constituencies, 6 Area Council Chairmen as well as 62 Councillorship positions for the FCT.’’
The Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Alagbon, Lagos, has restated that disputes over land ownership are civil matters that fall under the jurisdiction of the courts and should not be handled by the police.
Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, the FCID spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Aminat Mayegun, said the role of the police in land-related cases is limited to addressing criminal infractions that may arise from such disputes.
Her clarification follows growing complaints from property owners and residents in Lagos who have raised concerns about alleged police interference in land disputes, despite long-standing directives that ownership disagreements are civil in nature.
Some residents have accused law enforcement operatives of actions that allegedly worsened tensions, encouraged intimidation and complicated the resolution of land ownership matters, which they insist should be determined strictly through legal proceedings.
Others claim such involvement sometimes tilts in favour of powerful interests, further eroding public confidence.
Mayegun explained that issues relating to land boundaries or ownership are governed by civil law and must be settled in court, stressing that the police lack the authority to determine who owns any parcel of land.
She noted, however, that police intervention becomes necessary when criminal acts are committed in the course of a land dispute.
“The police are duty-bound to intervene and investigate only when land-related disputes give rise to criminal offences, as they have no mandate to determine ownership of land,” she said.
According to her, offences such as obtaining money by false pretence, malicious damage to property, arson, assault or any other act recognised under the Criminal Code Act fall squarely within the responsibility of the police.
She warned that individuals who resort to fraud, violence or destruction of property under the pretext of asserting land rights would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
The FCID spokesperson also cautioned members of the public against taking laws into their hands, urging aggrieved parties to seek redress through established legal channels.
She assured that the Nigeria Police Force would continue to carry out its duties strictly in line with the law and called on citizens to report cases of improper land-related interference through the Police Complaints Response Unit.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has unveiled plans to prioritise sugar as a key driver of industrial development across the country.
The initiative, in partnership with the National Sugar Development Council, aims to boost local production, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported sugar.
Disclosing this yesterday in a statement, the NGF said it has agreed to include sugar projects as priority beneficiaries in engagements with both local and international development partners.
The decision follows requests by the NSDC to accelerate the development of the sugar sector, with the dual goals of achieving self-sufficiency in sugar production and creating employment opportunities for Nigerians.
Speaking at a meeting with NGF officials, NSDC Executive Secretary/CEO, Kamar Bakrin, highlighted the vast investment potential in the sugar sector and encouraged governors of states with suitable lands to embrace sugar project development.
He identified 11 states with prime sugarcane cultivation potential: Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Adamawa, and Taraba.
“Recent macroeconomic shifts have made domestic sugar production more commercially viable.
“While global sugar prices remain relatively stable in dollar terms, exchange rate fluctuations have made imports significantly more expensive. With locally sourced inputs, Nigeria’s sugar industry now offers robust returns,” Bakrin explained.
He added that Nigeria has approximately 1.2 million hectares of land suitable for large-scale sugarcane cultivation, far exceeding the 200,000 hectares needed to achieve national self-sufficiency.
“Sugarcane projects will empower host communities, promote inclusive development, and support environmental sustainability,” he noted.
Bakrin also cited a model sugar project producing 100,000 metric tons annually, requiring an estimated $250 million investment, with an internal rate of return of 24 per cent. Beyond sugar, the projects generate valuable by-products such as ethanol and bio-electricity, further enhancing profitability and sustainability.
The Director-General of NGF, Abdulateef Shittu, welcomed the initiative, noting that several state governments are already exploring sugar-related investments spanning land development, agricultural schemes, and agro-industrial projects.
He emphasized that effective coordination, credible investment frameworks, and alignment with federal policy objectives are critical for scaling such opportunities.
“The NGF secretariat is committed to supporting state-level development priorities that leverage sugar projects for rural development and job creation,” Shittu stated.
Urban residents in Nigeria enjoy faster internet than rural users, a new report by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has revealed, even as nationwide connectivity shows modest improvements.
The report, which analysed 377,135 network tests using geospatial mapping, found that urban download speeds average 20.5 megabits per second, Mbps, compared to 11 Mbps in rural areas, a gap of about 40 percent. Upload speeds were also uneven, with urban users recording 10.5 Mbps against 6.1 Mbps in rural locations.
Although rural speeds have improved from 8.5 Mbps earlier this year, the NCC said higher latency in rural areas continues to affect real-time services such as voice and video calls.
NCC said: “Urban areas account for just 5.2 percent of Nigeria’s landmass but 96.7 percent of total network activity.
“Rural communities, which cover over 93 percent of the country, experience much sparser usage and slower speeds.”
The report also highlighted that the choice of network operator can sometimes matter more than location.
It stated: “MTN’s average rural download speed of 15.8 Mbps was found to outperform Glo’s average urban speed of 9.5 Mbps, showing uneven performance across operators.
“Major highways, especially the Lagos–Abuja corridor, were identified as ‘digital corridors’ where network coverage is stronger.
“Rural towns along these routes often enjoy better connectivity than remote interior villages, reflecting how road and network infrastructure grow together.”
On technology trends, the report noted that “4G LTE remains Nigeria’s broadband backbone, delivering speeds of 10–20 Mbps in rural areas, while 5G networks, where available, offer speeds of up to 220 Mbps but are still largely confined to dense urban centres.
“Among operators, MTN delivered the most consistent nationwide performance, followed by Airtel. T2 recorded the highest median rural speed at 24.9 Mbps in select regions, while Glo maintained baseline connectivity of 9.5 Mbps across both urban and rural areas.”
The NCC said closing the persistent urban-rural gap will require targeted rural infrastructure upgrades, improved upload capacity, and stronger quality-of-service standards to support digital education, e-government and remote work.
“Improving network quality outside cities is akey to ensuring all Nigerians benefit from digital services,” the regulator added.
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