INEC Insists On June 3rd Deadline For Party Primaries

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has reiterated that the deadline for political party primaries is fixed and firm, reminding political parties that they have one month to conclude their primaries, as the deadline remains Friday third June 2022.

The Commission hinted that in compliance with section eighty-two (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, all eighteen political parties have served the required notices indicating 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, adding that some of the parties have already commenced the process, and the Commission has deployed staff to monitor the exercises as required by law.

A statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Barrister Festus Okoye, said it became imperative to remind political parties about the timeline, given the importance of the exercise to the emergence of candidates for the various elective positions in the 2023 general elections, while urging the parties to ensure rancour-free and transparent exercise.

The statement noted that nomination for Presidential and National Assembly elections shall be submitted through the INEC portal from tenth to seventeenth June 2022, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly nominations shall be submitted between first and fifteenth July 2022.

Political parties, according to the statement, are further reminded that they must submit to INEC list of candidates who must have emerged from valid primaries, adding that the Commission will continue to work with political parties to uphold the Constitution, Electoral Act and the timelines for all the activities contained in the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections.

INEC recalled that on twenty-sixth February 2022, it released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 elections, which it noted provides that parties must conduct their primaries for nomination of candidates from fourth April to third June 2022.