The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged all political parties in the country to stick to their primary election schedules in order to produce candidates for the 2023 elections, with the deadline set for Friday, June 3, 2022.
The Commission previously released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election on February 26, 2022. It specifies that parties hold their candidate nomination primaries from April 4 to June 3, 2022.
Read Also: Kano APC Crisis: Shekarau’s G7 Demands 55% Party Structure
All 18 political parties have served the required notices indicating the dates for their conventions, congresses, and primaries to nominate candidates for various elective offices as specified in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, according to a statement released on Thursday in Abuja by INEC national commissioner and chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.
According to Okoye, some of the parties have already started the process, and the Commission has sent staff to monitor it as required by law.
In a statement titled “Adherence to Timelines for the Conduct of Primaries by Political Parties,” Okoye said it was critical to remind political parties that they have one month from this Thursday to complete their primaries, given the importance of the exercise in identifying candidates for various elective positions in the 2023 General Election.
“The deadline has been extended to Friday, June 3rd, 2022. While urging the parties to conduct the exercise in a fair and transparent manner, the Commission emphasises that the deadline is firm and set.
Read Also: Buhari’s visit: Broom sellers, others make brisk business in Ebonyi
“From the 10th to the 17th of June 2022, nominations for the Presidential and National Assembly elections shall be submitted through the INEC web portal, while nominations for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly shall be submitted between the 1st and 15th of July 2022,” he said.
He also reminded them that the list of candidates who must have emerged from valid primaries must be submitted to the Commission.
“The Commission will continue to work with political parties to ensure adherence to the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the timelines for all activities in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election,” he said.
