Party primaries: June 3 deadline remains firm, fixed, says INEC

…Insists on transparence, rancour free exercise

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

The eighteen (18) registered political parties in the country have up to June 3, this year to conclude their primaries for the purpose of nominating candidates for various elective offices as specified in the nation’s constitution, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared.

The Commission specifically said that   deadline remains Friday 3rd June this year remains firm and fixed.

The electoral body made the declaration in a statement yesterday by its National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye in Abuja.

The Professor Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC stated, expressly, 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 yesterday (Thursday) to conclude their primaries. 

While urging the political parties to ensure rancour-free and transparent exercise, the Commission reiterated that the deadline is firm and fixed.

The political parties were further reminded that they must submit to the Commission the list of candidates who must have emerged from valid primaries.   

The Commission pledged that it 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.

The statement by Barrister Okoye reads, “It will be 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.

“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. 

“Some of the parties have already commenced the process for which the Commission has deployed staff to monitor the exercise as required by law.

“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”, it stressed.