The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that the deadline for political parties to conduct a rancor-free and transparent exercise primaries remains Friday 3rd June 2022, calling for compliance as enshrined in the electoral Act 2022.
INEC National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye disclosed this in a statement Thursday 5th May 2022.
He reiterates that the deadline is firm and fixed given the importance of the exercise to the emergence of candidates for the various elective positions for the 2023 General Election, adding that it is imperative to remind political parties that they have one month from this day to conclude their primaries to avoid bridge of the constitution.
“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.
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.”
Okoye further expressed the Commission’s determination to 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.
