By Princess-Ekwi Ajide – Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reiterated that the deadline for political parties primaries is firm and fixed reminding political parties that they have one month to conclude their primaries as the deadline remains Friday 3rd June 2022.
The Commission hinted that in compliance with section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, all 18 political parties have served the required notices indicating 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 adding that some of the parties have already commenced the process and the Commission has deployed staff to monitor the exercise as required by law.
A statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, said it became imperative to remind political parties about the timeline, given the importance of the exercise to the emergence of candidates for the various elective positions for the 2023 General Election, while urging the parties to ensure rancour-free and transparent exercise.
The statement noted that 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 according to the statement, are further reminded that they must submit to the Commission the list of candidates who must have emerged from valid primaries for 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.
It recalled that on 26th February 2022, the Commission had released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election which provided that parties must conduct their primaries for the nomination of candidates from 4th April to 3rd June 2022.
