2023: Conclude your primaries in one month or get disqualified, INEC warns parties
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given warning to political parties to strictly obey and work in line with the timeline for the exercise of primaries for the 2023 general elections.
The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, sounded this warning via a statement on Thursday.
Recall that on February 26, 2022, the electoral body made available the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election, where it stated that parties are to conduct their primary election exercises for the nominations of their flagbearers from 4th April to 3rd June 2022.
With this development, it should be noted that primaries conducted after the fixed date would not be accepted by the electoral body.
“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,” Okoye said.
“Political parties are further reminded that they must submit to the commission the list of candidates who must have emerged from valid primaries,” he added.
Okoye however said that the commission will not stop working with political parties to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the timelines for all the activities postulated in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 general elections.
