By Blessing Etim & Lois Otse Adams
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to conduct their primaries for the 2023 general elections.
The notice of extension is contained in a statement issued by INEC National Commissioner, and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, after its meeting with the leadership of political parties in Abuja, on Friday.
The commission recalled that the political parties at the meeting had again requested the Commission to review the timelines for primaries provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the 2023 General Election released on February 26.
The electoral umpire, however, clarified that the extension is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only and not those already concluded.
The statement read in part: “The Independent National Electoral Commission met with the leadership of political parties today Friday, May 27, 2022. Once again, the political parties requested the commission to review the timelines for political party primaries provided in the timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of the 2023 general election released on Saturday, February 26, 2022.
Earlier, the political parties had requested for 37 – 60 days extension of the timeline for primaries and the nomination of candidates. The commission was emphatic that this request could not be granted because it would disrupt other scheduled activities on the timetable. This position of the commission has not changed.
However, based on the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election, the parties have now pleaded with the commission to use the six-day period between June 4-9, 2022 to conclude outstanding primaries and prepare to upload the list of candidates and their affidavits on the INEC candidates nomination portal.
The commission did not schedule any specific activity during this period. The idea is to simply give parties time to compile the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates before uploading same to the INEC candidates nomination portal from June 10-17, 2022.
“The commission has decided to allow the request of the political parties since the six-day period does not conflict with the next scheduled activity which is the submission of the list of nominated candidates or any of the subsequent timelines which remain sacrosanct. However, this request is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only without prejudice to those already concluded by political parties. The commission will not monitor already concluded primaries.” he emphasized.
Also, the Commission maintained that the next critical activity for political parties, after the conduct of primaries is the online submission of the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor.
INEC enjoined Political parties to therefore ensure that their primaries are free of issues in order to meet the timelines for the remaining activities embodied in the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election.
