By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Ahead of the September 21, this year’s governorship election in Edo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has charged the political parties intending to contest the election to avoid rancorous primaries that often lead to the breakdown of law and order as a result of non-adherence to the provision of their constitutions and guidelines.
The Commission has similarly urged the parties to avoid unnecessary postponement, arbitrary changes of venues of their primaries, wholesale change of delegates’ list or the submission of names that did not emerge from valid primaries as candidates for the election.
The Professor Mahmood Yakubu -led INEC stated this in a press release on Thursday in Abuja.
INEC, in the statement signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Sam Olumekun, insisted that primaries must take place within the State in line with Sections 84(4) and 5(b) of the Electoral Act 2022.
According to the statement, “As the Commission is set to deploy its monitoring teams, political parties are hereby reminded that Edo State is the Constituency for the election.
“Therefore, primaries must take place within the State in line with Sections 84(4) and 5(b) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“Parties are urged to avoid unnecessary postponement, arbitrary changes of venues of their primaries, wholesale change of delegates’ list or the submission of names that did not emerge from vaild primaries as candidates for the election.
“They should also avoid rancorous primaries that lead to the breakdown of law and order often as a result of non-adherence to the provision of their constitutions and guidelines.
“These are some of the issues that lead to a large number of pre-election litigations”, it said
The Commission disclosed that the schedule (dates and modes) of primaries proposed by the political parties has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms for public information.
Sixteen (16) political parties, the statement showed, have notified the Commission of their intention to participate in the election as well as their preferred modes and dates of primaries.
The statement tagged, ‘Schedule of Primaries Submitted by Political Parties For Edo State Governorship Election”, added, ‘It will be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Edo State off-cycle Governorship election.
“Among the activities listed for the election is the conduct of primaries by political parties scheduled for 1st – 24th February 2024.
By virtue of Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, political parties are required to give the Commission at least 21 days notice before the date fixed for the conduct of their primaries.
“The last date for such notification lapsed on 4th February 2024.
“Sixteen (16) political parties have notified the Commission of their intention to participate in the election as well as their preferred modes and dates of primaries.”, it said.
