The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has said it will not release the 2023 general election timetable until the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is signed into law.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this Tuesday in Abuja during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political parties.

He said; “On the Electoral Amendment Bill currently before the National Assembly, the Commission is encouraged by the Senate President’s assurance to give priority attention to the Bill when the National Assembly reconvenes from its recess today, and the commitment by the President to assent to the Bill as soon as the issue of mode of primaries by political parties is resolved. We look forward to a speedy passage of the Bill, which is crucial to our preparations for future elections.

“As soon as it is signed into law, the Commission will quickly release the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election based on the new law”.

Iyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party has told presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, that members of the party, and not leaders, would determine who emerges as the PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.

Ayu said this on Thirsday during Momodu’s visit to the PDP National Secretariat in Abuja where he formally presented his letter of intent to contest for the party’s presidential ticket.

The National Chairman noted that the PDP had no preferred presidential candidate and would provide a level-playing ground for all aspirants.

Ayu said, “For you to run for office, you must have a strong platform, but the first responsibility I will charge you to do is to work hard and build a strong party with which we can go into battle with.

“For your personal ambition like all other candidates, I wish you well, I wish you the best.

“There will be a level playing ground for all aspirants, just like you, we don’t have a special candidate, PDP has no preferred candidate, the party members will decide who will contest any office.

“If at the end of the day, party members vote for you, PDP will stand behind you. You have to go out and work out there among the party members across the country, because the party leadership will not do it for you. Our job is to try and provide the necessary mechanism.”

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Tuesday January 11, informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his 2023 presidential ambition.

Umahi who had a closed door meeting with Buhari today, told state house correspondents that the President advised him to consult widely.

Umahi’s visit to inform the President of his presidential ambition is coming exactly 24 hours after a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, paid a similar visit to President Buhari.

Recall FELLOW PRESS reported the APC national leader, Bola Tinubu had also declared his intention to run for presidential race in 2023.