President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan (Source: AFP)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said in a statement that Nigeria is to hold its next presidential election on February 14, 2015.
Incumbent head of state Goodluck Jonathan has held the office since May 2010 after his predecessor, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua passed away.
Earlier, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan was the Vice President under the sovereignty of the late President Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua.
The electoral body has promised to ensure that the 2015 vote is free, fair and credible. Elections for governors as well as members of the 36 state houses of assembly are scheduled for February 28, 2015.
The elections are expected to be fiercely contested between the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the coalition of opposition parties, now called the All Progressives Congress. Smaller parties, such as Labour, are also expected to play the spoiler role in some of the states.
Nigeria elects on the federal level a head of state (the President of Nigeria) and a legislature (the National Assembly). The president is elected by the people. The National Assembly has two chambers. The House of Representativeshas 360 members, elected for a four-year term in single-seat constituencies.
The Senate has 109 members, elected for a four-year term: each of the 36 states are divided into 3 senatorial districts, each of which is represented by one senator; the Federal Capital Territory is represented by only one senator.
Nigeria has a multi-party system, with two or three strong parties and a third party that is electorally successful. However, members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have controlled the presidency since elections were resumed in 1999./.
Đăng ký: VietNam News