As the nation prepares for the 2024 elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) has unveiled its comprehensive calendar, outlining crucial milestones in the electoral process.
The EC has announced that nominations for presidential and parliamentary candidates will be accepted from September 9 to 13, 2024, setting the stage for the highly anticipated political contest later in the year.
Following the nomination period, balloting for positions on the presidential ballot paper is scheduled for September 23, 2024, with parliamentary candidates’ balloting slated for September 24, 2024.
A voters’ registration exercise is set to run from May 7 to May 27, 2024. Preceding this, an extensive 56-day public education campaign will commence on April 1, aimed at informing and preparing the electorate for the registration process.
The EC also plans to replace missing voter ID cards nationwide, starting May 30, 2024.
Political parties are expected to receive the provisional voters’ register between July 9 and 18, followed by a public exhibition of the voters’ register from July 15 to 24, 2024.
The final voters’ register will be submitted to political parties by late August to early September.
To ensure transparency and inclusivity, the EC intends to engage with various stakeholders through meetings and the “Let the Citizen Know” series.
Special Voting is scheduled for December 2, 2024, catering to security agencies and accredited media practitioners who will be on duty on the main election day, December 7, 2024.
While the EC is not mandated by law to declare election results within a specific timeframe, it has committed to a maximum of three days for the presidential results, demonstrating its dedication to transparency and efficiency.
Regional Collation Centres will play a crucial role in announcing regional-level results, further streamlining the electoral process.