Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reminded political parties that it has one month left within which they are expected to conclude party primaries.
This is even as the Commission said its Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, will not abandoned the onerous job of electoral umpire to vie for presidency of the country as being insinuated.
It said: “The Chairman remains an umpire committed to free, fair and credible elections. His constitutional responsibilities as the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Federation and Returning Officer for the presidential election are onerous enough for him to even contemplate straying into extraneous matters at variance with the law, morality and his personal principles.
The Chairman will continue to discharge his responsibilities without affection for, or ill-will against, any political party or candidate.”
The Commission recalled that on 26th February 2022, the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election. It provides for parties to conduct their primaries for the nomination of candidates from 4th April to 3rd June 2022.
It noted that in compliance with section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, all 18 political parties have served the required notices indicating the dates for their conventions, congresses, and primaries for the purpose of nominating candidates for various elective offices as specified in the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Further, in a statement by the National Commissioner & Chairman
Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, observed that some of the parties have already commenced the process for which the Commission has deployed staff to monitor the exercise as required by law.
However, it he said that given the importance of the exercise to the emergence of candidates for the various elective positions for the 2023 General Election, it is imperative to remind political parties that they have one month from today to conclude their primaries.
“The deadline remains Friday 3rd June 2022. While urging the parties to ensure rancour-free and transparent exercise, the Commission reiterates that the deadline is firm and fixed.
“Nominations for Presidential and National Assembly elections shall be submitted through the INEC web portal from 10th to 17th June 2022 while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly nominations shall be submitted between 1st and 15th July 2022.
“Political parties are further reminded that they must submit to the Commission the list of candidates who must have emerged from valid primaries.
“The Commission will continue to work with political parties to ensure fidelity to the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the timelines for all the activities contained in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election”, he stated.
