INEC announces timetable for Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2015.

Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission has stated that elections will be held on February 14.

Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the timetable for the country's presidential and parliamentary elections in 2015. In a statement Saturday, INEC Secretary Augusta Ogakwu said presidential and legislative polls will be held on February 14. The governorship election and state assembly polls will follow on February 28, the statement added. The timetable also scheduled two governorship polls in the country's southwest Ekiti and Osun states for June 21 and August 9, 2014 respectively. "According to the Electoral Act, the parties are expected to submit the list of their candidates at least 60 days to the elections," Ogakwu added. "In effect, the names of the presidential candidates should reach INEC not later than December 17, 2014 and those contesting governorship elections by the end of the same month," Ogakwu said. "Declaration for office and campaign by the candidates leading up to the party congresses/conventions are expected to come up earlier." Section 99(1) of the Act (As Amended) requires the INEC to allow campaign at least 90 days before any poll. "An election to the office of the President (as applicable to all offices) shall be held on a date to be appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission in accordance with the constitution and this Act," reads Section 25 of the Electoral Act. "An election to the said office of the President (as applicable to all offices) shall be held on a date not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office." INEC is expected to later release guidelines on the elections. Nigeria operates a US-styled presidential system, where election holds every four years. Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan has yet to make an official announcement on whether or not he would be running for a second term in office. His rumored second term ambition is at the heart of the crises rocking his ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), which has lost key figures - including several governors and powerful lawmakers - in recent weeks