MID-WEEK ESSAY: INEC Has Begun Its
Deadlines Violation and Internet "Mago-Mago"
March 8, 2007
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Dear Compatriots:
As we await, today March 8, INEC's
official list of State Assembly and gubernatorial candidates, and on
March 15, the Presidential and gubernatorial candidates' lists -
particularly to see whether INEC will obey the courts of the land and
NOT disqualify candidates without court order and thereby exclude
names - I bring to your attention the following troubling information.
If you go to the URL:
you will see a large but slightly fuzzy
picture of INEC Chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu (hands spread out). Below it,
however, is an unintelligible "Time Table and Schedule of Activities for
the 2007 General Elections," viz:.
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INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
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TIME TABLE AND SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE 2007
GENERAL ELECTIONS |
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1. |
Issuance of Notice of Elections - S.31 (1) Electoral
Act |
Nov. 8, 2006 |
Electoral Act 2006 provides for |
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2006. |
notlaterthan150daysbefore |
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Election. |
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2. |
Collection of Forms Commences: |
Dec. 1,2006 |
No provision in the Electoral Act |
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F onn (CF 001) Affidavit/Personal particulars of
candidates |
2006 |
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Form (CF002) Party's list of Candidates |
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I |
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3. |
Last day of Collection of Forms |
No provision in Electoral Act but |
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(a) |
Governorship/State Assembly Elections |
Dec. 14,2006 |
Forms must be submitted 120 days |
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(b) |
Presidential/National Assembly Elections
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Dec. 21, 2006 |
before the Elections |
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4. |
Last d11Y of Submission of personal particulars and
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list of candidates by Political Parties S.32 (1)
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The Electoral Act provide for such |
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(a) |
Governorship/State Assembly Elections |
Dec. 15,2006 |
submission, not later than 120 days |
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(b) |
Presidential/National Assembly Elections
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Dec. 22, 2006 |
before the elections |
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5. |
Last day for publication of personal particulars
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Electoral Act provides for publication |
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of candidates - S. 32(3) |
within 7 days after submission of list |
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(a) |
Governorship/State assembly Elections |
Dec. 22, 2006 |
of candidates by Political Parties |
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(b) |
Presidential/National Assembly Elections
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Dec. 29,2006 |
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6. |
Campaign by Political Parties in Public commences -
S 101 (1) |
The Electoral Act provides that the |
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(a) |
Governorship/State/Assembly/Elections |
Jan142007 |
period of campaigning shall commence |
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90daysbeforePollingdayandends24 |
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(b) |
Presidential/National Assembly Elections
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Jan. 21, 2007 |
hours prior to that day |
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7. |
Collection of Nomination Forms by Parties
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Jan. 15,2007 |
No provision in the Electoral Act 2006 |
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commences |
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8- |
- |
Last date for Return of Nomination Forms by
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Jan. 29,2007 |
Not provided for in the Electoral Act |
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Politic Parties |
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• |
It may be the work of an incompetent
webmaster, but there you have it.
Yet, luckily, on my NigerianmMuse website,
I had reproduced a long while ago the correct schedule issued by INEC
itself put on its same website - see
under its URL:
QUOTE
Time Table of Activities and
Schedule for the 2007 General Elections:
http://www.inecnigeria.org/newsview.php?newsid=195
After due consultation with the political
Parties and other Stakeholders and with due regards to the Constitution of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and the Electoral Act 2006. The
Independent National Electoral Commission has approved the following Time
Table of Activities and Schedule for the 2007 General Elections:
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S/N
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ACTIVITY
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DATE
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REMARKS
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1.
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Issuance of Notice of
Polls-S.31(1) Electoral Act 2006
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Nov. 8, 2006 |
Electoral Act provides for not later
than 150 days before Election |
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2.
(i)
(ii) |
Collection of Forms commences:
Form (CF001) Affidavit/ personal
particulars of candidates
Form (CF002) Party's list of
candidates |
Dec.1, 2006 |
No provision in the Electoral Act
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3.
(a)
(b) |
Last day for collection of
forms
Governorship/State Assembly
Elections
Presidential/National Assembly
Elections |
Dec. 14, 2006
Dec. 21, 2006 |
No provision in Electoral Act but
Forms must be submitted 120 days before the Elections. |
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4.
(a)
(b) |
Last day for submission
of personal particulars and list of candidates by Political Parties-S.32(1)
Governorship/State Assembly
Elections
Presidential/National Assembly
Elections |
Dec.15, 2006
Dec.22, 2006 |
The Electoral Act provides for not
later than120 days before a General Election. |
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5.
(a)
(b) |
Last day for publication
of personal particulars of candidates-S.32(3)
Governorship/State Assembly
Elections
Presidential/National Assembly
Elections |
Dec. 22, 2006
Dec. 29, 2006
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Electoral Act provides for publication
within 7 days after submission of list of candidates by Political
Parties |
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6.
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Collection of Nomination
Forms by Parties commences
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Jan.15, 2007 |
No provision in the Electoral Act 2006
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7.
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Last date for Return of
Nomination Forms by Political Parties
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Jan. 29, 2007 |
Not provided for in the Electoral Act
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8.
(a)
(b) |
Last date for withdrawal
by candidates-S.36 (1)
Governorship/State Assembly
Elections
Presidential/National Assembly
Elections |
Feb.3, 2007
Feb.10, 2007
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The Electoral Act 2006 provides that
the notice of withdrawal shall be conveyed to the Commission not
later than 70 days to the Election. |
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9.
(a)
(b) |
Last date for change of
candidates by Political Parties
Governorship/State Assembly
Elections
Presidential/National Assembly
Election |
Feb. 13, 2007
Feb. 20, 2007 |
The Electoral Act provides for 60
days before the date of the election |
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10.
(a)
(b) |
Last date for
substitution after withdrawal-S.36(2)
Governorship/State Assembly
Elections
Presidential/National Assembly
Elections |
Feb. 13, 2007
Feb. 20, 2007 |
The Electoral Act 2006 provides that
where the Commission is satisfied that the Candidate's withdrawal
satisfies the provisions of section 36(2), the Political Party shall
be allowed to nominate another candidate, not later than 60 days
before the date of election.
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11.
(a)
(b) |
Publication of list of
nominated candidates/ persons nominating them-S.35(1)
Governorship/State Assembly
Elections
Presidential/National Assembly
Elections |
March 8,2007
March15,2007 |
The Electoral Act 2006 provides that
such publications shall be made at least 30 days before the day of
the election. |
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12
(a)
(b) |
Publication of Notice of
Polls-S.47
Governorship/State Assembly
Elections
Presidential/National Assembly
Elections |
March 24, 2007
March 31, 2007 |
The Electoral Act provides for a
period not later than 14 days before the day of the election
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13.
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(i) Last day for campaigns
for
Governorship/State
houses of Assembly Elections
(ii) Last day for
campaigning
for Presidential/National Assemble
Elections-S 104 |
April 13, 2007
April 20, 2007 |
The Act prohibits broadcasts or
campaigns 24 hours preceding the day of polling-S.104(1)
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13
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(i)
Governorship/State houses of Assembly Elections
(ii)
Presidential/National Assembly Elections-
S. 31(1)
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April 14,
2007
April
21, 2007
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The Act
provides for at least 150 days commencing from the date the notice
of polls is given to the date of election.
Run-offs
(where applicable) for presidential and Governorship Elections to be
announced |
NOTE: Run Offs for
Presidential/Governorship Elections will be fixed at the time or shortly
after the announcement of results.
Professor M.M. Iwu
UNQUOTE
In fact the old URL now reports on "INEC
Missing computers:
Why the difference? Why change it?
Nobody knows.
Finally, you will recall that that INEC
is still operating the 2006 Electoral Act:
The recent amendments by the National
Assembly (which shifted some dates to accommodate slippages by INEC) have
NOT been signed into law by the President to our knowledge, and so the
2006 Act still applies. That means that INEC has already missed TWO
CRITICAL DEADLINES.
The first is according to Section 27:
"Not later than 60 days before GENERAL ELECTION, supplementary voters'
list shall be integrated with the voters' register and published."
February 21, 2007 has come and gone, and NOTHING has been published for
anyone to see.
The second is according to Section
11(1)(b) of the Act, which states that "within 60 days after the
beginning of each year, INEC must make names, addresses of all
registered persons during the previous year available to every
political party." That means that on Thursday March 1 (or at least
March 2, 2007), INEC should have made available ALL names registered in
2006 to the named parties, even if the latest registration exercise
CONTINUED into 2007.
These two dates should NOT be confused
with the one of March 31, 2007, spelt out by Section 47, which states
that 14 days before Guber/SASS Elections Day "INEC shall publish (a)
day/hours fixed for poll (b) people entitled to vote; and (c) location
of polling stations."
Finally, may I invite you to look closely
at this: "Full Chronological Implications of Announced Electoral
Time-Table " according to Electoral Act 2006, and understand that until
and unless the President SIGNS the amended Electoral Act, INEC is IN
VIOLATION of MANY of the deadlines shown, and could be sued for wrongful
election management.
Is there a method to this election
madness? Inquiring minds want to know.
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Date |
Event |
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2006 |
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Wednesday
May 31 |
Electoral Law 2006 [Harmonized]
passed by National Assembly |
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Tuesday
June 6 |
Assent by President Obasanjo |
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Tuesday,
August 29 |
INEC announces Voter Registration &
Election Dates
{ie October 7, 2006 for begin of
voter registration;
April 14, 2007 for Guber/SASS
Elections;
April 21, 2007 for Prez/NASS
Elections} |
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Thursday
August 31 |
Deadline for INEC to submit
Budget for activities for following
Year 2007 [Section 6(1) of
Electoral Act 2006 (EA2006)] |
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Thursday, October 7 |
Voter (Re-)Registration to Begin
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Saturday, October 14 |
6 months days before GENERAL
ELECTION GE (ie April 14, 2007):
1. Political parties intending to
be registered must submit their applications not later than six
months before GE [Section 78(1)]
1. Political parties intending
to merge must give six months notice to INEC before GE [Section
84(2)] |
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Thursday, November 16 |
150 days before Guber/SASS Elections
Day:
1. Not later than 150 days
before this election day,
INEC must publish date of
election and where nomination papers are to be delivered [Section
31(1)] |
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Thursday, November 23 |
150 days before Prez/NASS Elections
Day:
1. Not later than 150 days
before this election day,
INEC must publish date of
election and where nomination papers are to be delivered [Section
31(1)] |
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Friday, December 15 |
120 days before Guber/SASS Election
Day
1. Registration of voters that
will vote not later than 120 days before this election day
[Section 10(5)]…..but
registration must continue [since
it is continuous; Section 10(1)]
2. Party must submit list of
candidates to INEC not later than 120 days before Guber/SASS
Election Day [Section 32(1)]
3. INEC must publish particulars
within 7 days after receipt . [Section 32(3)] |
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Friday, December 22 |
120 days before Prez/SASS Election
Day
1. Registration of voters that
will vote not later than 120 days before this election day
[Section 10(5)]…..but registration must continue [since it is
continuous; Section 10(1)]
2. Party must submit list of
candidates to INEC not later than 120 days before this election
day [Section 32(1)]
3. INEC must publish particulars
within 7 days after receipt .
[Section 32(3)] |
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2007 |
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Sunday, January 14 |
90 days before Guber/SASS Elections
Day:
1. Parties to submit audited
account [Section 89(1)]
2. Public campaign by parties
can begin; to last only 90 days and end 24 hours to poll opening
[Section 101(a)] |
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Sunday, January 21 |
90 days before Prez/NASS Elections
Day:
1. Parties to submit audited
account [Section 89(1)]
2. Public campaign by parties
can begin; to last only 90 days and end 24 hours to poll opening
[Section 101(a)] |
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Sunday, February 4 |
70 days before Guber/SASS Elections
Day:
1. Candidate can withdraw his
candidature [Section 36(1)] |
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Sunday, February 11 |
70 days before Prez/NASS Elections
Day:
1. Candidate can withdraw his
candidature [Section 36(1)] |
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Wednesday, February 21 |
60 days before GENERAL ELECTION:
1. Not later than 60 days before
GENERAL ELECTION,
supplementary voters' list shall
be integrated
with the voters' register and
published [Section 21]
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Wednesday, February 21 |
1. Parties can signify intent to
change its candidate not later than 60 days before Guber/SASS
[Section 34(1)] 2. Party
can change a withdrawn candidate not
later than 60 days before Guber/SASS
[Section 36(2)] |
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Wednesday, February 28 |
1. Parties can signify intent to
change its candidate not later than 60 days before Prez/NASS
[Section 34(1)] 2. Party
can change a withdrawn candidate not
later than 60 days before Prez/NASS
[Section 36(2)] |
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Thursday, March 1 |
Within 60 days after each year:
1. INEC must make names,
addresses of all registered persons during 2006 available to
every political party [Section 11(1)(b)] |
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Thursday March 15 |
30 days before Guber/SASS Elections
Day
1. INEC to publish by display
full names of all candidates standing nominated [Section 35]
2. No duplicate voter's card
issued on polling day or within 30 days of Guber/SASS Elections
Day [Section 19(3)] |
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Thursday March 22 |
30 days before Prez/NASS Elections
Day
1. INEC to publish by display
full names of all candidates standing nominated [Section 35]
2. No duplicate voter's card
issued on polling day or within 30 days of Prez/NASS Elections
Day [Section 19(3)] |
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Saturday, March 31 |
14 days before Guber/SASS Elections
Day
1. INEC shall publish (a)
day/hours fixed for poll (b) people entitled to vote; and (c)
location of polling stations. [See Section 47]
2. Election tribunals shall be
set up not later than 14 days before Guber/SASS Elections Day
[Section 140(3)] |
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Saturday,
April 7 |
14 days before Prez/NASS Elections
Day
1. INEC shall publish (a)
day/hours fixed for poll (b) people entitled to vote; and (c)
location of polling stations. [See Section 47]
2. Election tribunals shall be
set up not later than 14 days before Prez/NASS Elections Day
[Section 140(3)] |
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Tuesday March 27 |
7 days before PED:
1. Each political party to
submit names and addresses of its polling agents [Section 46(1)]
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Friday,
March 30 |
60 days before H-OD
1. Presidential elections cannot
be held earlier than this date (by 1999 Constitution)
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Friday,
April 13 |
Guber/SASS Public campaign ends on
this day |
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Saturday,
April 14 |
Gubernatorial/State Assembly
Election Day |
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???????????? |
Gubernatorial/State Assembly Results
Announced when? Date of announcement uncertain |
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Friday,
April 20 |
Prez/NASS Public campaign ends on
this day |
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Saturday,
April 21 |
Prez/NASS Election Day |
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???????????? |
Prez/NASS Results Announced when?
Date of announcement uncertain
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???????????? |
Guber/SASS Election petitions to be
filed by this date {within 30 days of results declaration
[Section 141]} |
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???????????? |
Prez/NASS Election petition to be
filed by this date {within
30 days of results declaration
[Section 141]} |
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???????????? |
Run-off # 1: 7 days after Prez/Guber
Results are announced Date
of announcement uncertain |
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Election petition against Run-off #1
can be filed within 30
days for results declaration [Section 141] |
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???????????? |
Run-off # 2: within 14 days after
Prez/Guber Run-off # 1 announced
Date of announcement uncertain
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Election petition can be filed
within 30 days for
results declaration of Run-off # 2 [Section 141] |
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Sunday,
April 29 |
30 days before Handover-Date
1. Presidential elections cannot
be held later
than this date (by 1999
Constitution) |
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Tuesday,
May 29 |
Hand-Over Date (HOD) to New
Administration |
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