•Says 334 pre-election cases filed by parties
•Swears in new REC for Kogi
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
As part of its preparations for the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will today publish the personal particulars of candidates nominated by their political parties for Governorship, deputy governorship and State Assembly elections in all the constituencies nationwide as required by law.
This was disclosed yesterday by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu during the swearing in ceremony of Dr Hale Gabriel Longpet as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Dr. Longpet, who is from Plateau State, has been posted to Kogi as the REC on the State.
Yakubu equally revealed that INEC has been inundated by numerous pre-election cases arising from the conduct of congresses and primaries by political parties for the 2023 General Election.
According to him, 334 pre-election cases have, so far, been filed in various divisions of the Federal High Court across the country by aspirants challenging the nomination of candidates or their exclusion from the list submitted to the Commission.
The INEC Chairman pointed out that with the planned publication today of the personal particulars of candidates for Governorship, Deputy Governorship and State Assembly elections, the Commission expects the number of cases to rise even higher.
He noted with sadness that the issue of internal democracy in political parties remains a sore point in our electoral process in Nigeria.
Notwithstanding, the Chairman assured that the Commission will continue to engage with political parties while standing firm against any transgression by strictly enforcing the provisions of the law and extant regulations and guidelines.
He appealed to all Nigerians (citizens and aspirants) to seize the opportunity of the today’s publication of the personal particulars of candidates nominated the political parties to scrutinise the particulars of the candidates and to seek judicial remedy for any observed violation of the law as provided in Sec. 29 of the Electoral Act 2022.
Yakubu, in his speech at the swearing-in of the new REC, said, “As we continue to prepare for the 2023 General Election in earnest, the Commission will tomorrow (today) Friday 22nd July 2022 publish the personal particulars of candidates nominated by their political parties for Governorship and State Assembly elections in all the constituencies nationwide as required by law.
“I appeal to all Nigerians (citizens and aspirants) to seize the opportunity to scrutinise the particulars of the candidates and to seek judicial remedy for any observed violation of the law as provided in Sec. 29 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“Already, the Commission has been inundated by numerous pre-election cases arising from the conduct of congresses and primaries by political parties for the 2023 General Election.
“So far, 334 pre-election cases have been filed in various divisions of the Federal High Court across the country by aspirants challenging the nomination of candidates or their exclusion from the list submitted to the Commission.
Although these are purely intra-party issues, the Commission has been joined in all these cases.
“With the publication tomorrow of the personal particulars of candidates for Governorship, Deputy Governorship and State Assembly elections, we expect the number of cases to rise even higher.
“Sadly, the issue of internal democracy in political parties remains a sore point in our electoral process in Nigeria.
“The Commission will continue to engage with political parties while standing firm against any transgression by strictly enforcing the provisions of the law and extant regulations and guidelines”, he said.
The INEC Chairman tasked the new REC to quickly familiarize himself with the electoral legal framework (the 1999 Constitution [as amended], the Electoral Act 2022 and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines).
Yakubu said, “Accordingly, Dr Longpet is hereby deployed to Kogi State as the new Resident Electoral Commissioner.
“As you assume duty immediately, let me remind you that you are responsible for the management of human and materials resources in your State of posting.
“You must immediately interact with your staff, pay attention to their welfare, visit the Local Government offices and assess the various facilities in readiness for the 2023 General Election.
“The Commission has set the bar for credible elections very high. I urge you to join us in raising the bar even higher. I wish to assure you that the Commission will always support you to deliver on our commitment to credible elections.
“As a Resident Electoral Commissioner, you will also interact with various categories of stakeholders.
In discharging your responsibilities, you must at all times be transparent and non-partisan while remaining firm and courageous.
“You must quickly familiarize yourself with the electoral legal framework (the 1999 Constitution [as amended], the Electoral Act 2022 and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines).
