INEC cautions parties against contentious and parallel primaries
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) expressed concern over various infractions committed by political parties in preparation for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.
The Edo State governorship election is slated for September 21, 2024, while the Ondo State governorship election is scheduled for November 16, 2024.
Senator Monday Okpebholo, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, emerged victorious in the Edo State All Progressives Congress governorship primary election.
Furthermore, Olumide Akpata, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, clinched the governorship primary of the Edo State Labour Party, securing the party's candidacy for the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
Asue Ighodalo has been selected as the candidate for the upcoming Edo poll by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
During the first regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, highlighted concerns about infractions like contentious primaries and the emergence of multiple candidates, which often result in unnecessary litigation among party members.
Yakubu emphasized the importance of political parties adhering strictly to the proposed dates and methods of primaries set by INEC.
He emphasized, "I strongly urge political parties to adhere strictly to their proposed dates and methods of primaries. Recent changes, as witnessed during the Edo primaries, are not only disruptive but also costly.
"The commission cannot repeatedly mobilize, demobilize, and remobilize our officials for monitoring party primaries at the convenience of political parties. Parties should adhere to their proposed dates and methods of primaries for certainty and optimal resource deployment.
"Similarly, political parties should avoid contentious primaries. We've observed an increase in parallel primaries and the emergence of multiple candidates. There's also a trend of granting waivers to candidates who were recently members of other political parties and nominating them to the commission as their candidates for election."
The chairman further mentioned that only six parties participating in the Edo governorship election have submitted their nominations to the portal, while 16 out of 19 parties have shown interest in contesting the Ondo governorship election. He cautioned that no deadline extension would be granted.
He explained, "Party primaries for the Edo State Governorship election have concluded. According to the timetable, parties have 20 days to upload their candidates' lists and personal particulars to our dedicated portal. Despite providing training and establishing a Help Desk for political parties, only six parties have uploaded their nominations within the stipulated timeframe."
He continued, "We urge adherence to our schedule to avoid last-minute complications. There will be no extensions beyond the deadline already specified in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities. This allows us to publish candidates' personal particulars (Form EC9) by 31st March 2024, as mandated by law."
"For the Ondo State Governorship election, party primaries are set to commence in two weeks on April 6, 2024, and conclude three weeks later on April 27, 2024. Currently, 16 out of 19 political parties have expressed interest in participating in the election."
In the meantime, Yusuf Dantalle, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), emphasized the council's commitment to ensuring that the Edo and Ondo States governorship elections meet the expectations of Nigerians and the international community.
"There should be no room for underperformance. IPAC will actively engage with INEC and key stakeholders to ensure the success of these elections, and we will be actively involved in voter mobilization, awareness campaigns, and election monitoring," Dantalle stated.
He reassured everyone that the council would work with political party leaders to ensure strict adherence to internal party democracy in the selection of candidates for various elective positions, thereby reducing pre-election litigations."
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