Friday, 06 May 2022 06:32

Deadlines for party primaries sacrosanct - INEC

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Against speculations of caving in to pressure from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s electoral umpire, INEC, says it will not extend the deadline set for political parties’ primary elections.

In its timetable and schedule of activities released in February for the 2023 General Election, the commission had slated April 4 to June 3 for the election of flag bearers of all political parties for the 2023 elections.

With about 28 days to the deadline, the nation’s leading political parties, APC and PDP, appear not ready for their primaries. While APC is still selling nomination forms to aspirants, PDP is screening eligible aspirants.

However, the two major parties are reportedly lobbying INEC to shift the dates.

In an unusual rush, not less than 23 and 17 persons have respectively shown interest in the presidential tickets of the ruling APC and the PDP.

As at Thursday 15 aspirants have made payment of N100 million each for the presidential contest in the APC while more than half of the number have obtained the same forms at N40 million in the PDP.

With the growing number of aspirants and agitations on zoning of the top seat, leaders of both parties are under immense pressure to handle the matter with care or risk full blown crises

Deadline remains

However, INEC, in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Festus Okoye, on Thursday, warned political parties against daring its resolution on the fixed deadline.

“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 a 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,” Okoye said.

The commission also confirmed the full compliance of the 18 political parties in the country to section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The section mandates all political parties to notify the commission on dates for their conventions, congresses, and primaries for the purpose of nominating candidates for various elective offices.

While both the PDP and APC have not clearly disclosed where they intend to zone the presidential seat to, the dates for the primaries tentatively remain May 28 and 29 for the former and 31 for the latter.

 

PT

May 11, 2025

Petroleum marketers to Dangote: We’re no cabal; we only have vested interest just like you

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) says no cabal in the…
May 11, 2025

Northern governors call for security strategy overhaul as violence escalates

The Northern States Governors' Forum (NSGF) has praised President Bola Tinubu's ongoing commitment to national…
May 10, 2025

The No. 1 lesson I learnt about relationship building, from a human connection specialist

Developing healthy, lifelong connections is something that Mark Groves knows all about: He equips individuals…
May 10, 2025

Town residents involutarily get high after Police burn 20 tons of confiscated cannabis

The 25,000 residents of Lice, a town in Turkey’s Diyarbakır province, involuntarily got high after…
May 10, 2025

Gunmen kill 30 travellers, burn 20 vehicles in Imo, Amnesty says

Gunmen shot dead at least 30 travellers in an attack in Nigeria's southeastern Imo state,…
May 11, 2025

What to know after Day 1172 of Russia-Ukraine war

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE Putin offers Ukraine direct talks without preconditions Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered…
May 11, 2025

African diet – plantains and cassava can be as healthy as tomatoes and olive oil,…

Plantains, cassava and fermented banana drink should be added to global healthy eating guidelines alongside…
January 08, 2025

NFF appoints new Super Eagles head coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Éric Sékou Chelle as the new Head Coach…

NEWSSCROLL TEAM: 'Sina Kawonise: Publisher/Editor-in-Chief; Afolabi Ajibola: IT Manager;
Contact Us: [email protected] Tel/WhatsApp: +234 811 395 4049

Copyright © 2015 - 2025 NewsScroll. All rights reserved.