Sudan's President Omer El-Bashir, of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), and Salva Kiir Mayardit, the President of the semi-autonomous regional Government of Southern Sudan, are expected to run in the elections.
NEC announced that the nomination forms must be submitted following the completion of the voters' registration process.
Addressing a press conference in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, the NEC Chairman, Abil Alier, praised the Sudanese media for playing a constructive role in the coverage of the pre-election period.
Alier praised the role being played by the media to make a success of the elections process, and called for continuity in their coverage.
During the elections, candidates will run for the positions of President of the Republic, the President of the Government of South Sudan and Governors of the States.
Sudan has been treading a fragile path to peace, with an agreement still to be reached to bring on board the Darfur region.
Mediators have been trying to get rebel groups in Darfur to commit to the peace process ahead of the April presidential polls.
Former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, leading a high-level Panel on Darfur, has warned the Sudan against excluding Darfur from the electoral process, saying this would confirm that the region is indeed a marginalized zone in the vast oil-rich nation.
Addis Ababa - Pana 28/12/2009