Campaigns for the January 16 Presidential election officially kick off tomorrow in line with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
But not yet.
A survey by The Nation reporters indicated that leading political parties – the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) – are not ready yet to go on the stump, nor are smaller parties.
Campaigns into National Assembly offices will also open tomorrow. The elections will be held on the same day as the presidential poll.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (APC) is being challenged by Peter Obi (NDC), Atiku Abubakar (ADC) and 16 others.
“We are not ready to be on the move for five months. It is expensive, energy-sapping and laborious,” a top official of one of the top parties said last night.
So far, none of the parties has set up campaign committees or released schedules of activities for the campaigns.
The campaign for the presidential and National Assembly elections is the sixth item on the timetable and schedule of activities released by the Commission.
It is in line with the provisions of Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides that campaigns by every political party shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.
It is in line with the provisions of Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provides that campaigns by every political party shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.
Campaigns for governorship and Houses of Assembly elections scheduled for February 6 next year would kick off on September 9.
The parties have up to August 22 to substitute any of their candidates that withdraws from the contest in line with Section 31 of the Electoral Act.
According to INEC, the parties have till August 29 to submit candidates’ nomination forms (Form 13A to E) in accordance with Section 30 (1).
The final list of nominated candidates is expected to be published by the Commission on September 12 in accordance with Section 32(1), which provides for the publication, at least, 60 days before the election.
A member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of a major opposition party, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said party leaders are not in a hurry to begin campaigns.
He said: “We have a five-month window. The party leaders are planning a meeting for the end of the month to discuss the campaign plan.”
APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, told reporters that plans are underway to unveil a detailed, nationwide campaign programme later in the month.
He clarified that while the August 19 date marks the legal commencement of the campaign window, it is not a mandatory requirement for parties to launch rallies immediately.
Morka stressed: “August 19 is the date fixed by INEC for all parties to start the presidential and National Assembly campaign. Nation
