The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
given political parties 10 days to conduct their primary election for the Edo
state governorship poll.
Speaking at the inter-agency consultative committee on
election on Wednesday, Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, said the deadline will
not be extended after June 27.
Only 15 political parties
indicated interest in the September 19 election.
“All political parties interested in fielding candidates for
the election are reminded that they must conclude their primaries for the
nomination of candidates in the next ten days,” Yakubu said.
“The deadline is Saturday, 27th June, 2020. I must stress
that the date is firm and fixed. There will be no extension of the deadline.
“While the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates
will be the sole responsibility of political parties, our officials will
monitor the primaries as required by law.”
He also said the commission will not extend the deadline for
political parties that fail to submit the names of the candidates for the
election.
“Arising from our experience in managing the nomination of
candidates for the last two governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states,
it is important to draw the attention of political parties to the four
mandatory requirements for eligibility of candidates for governorship elections
enshrined in Section 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999 (as amended),” he said.
“A candidate nominated by a political party must be a
Nigerian citizen by birth; must have attained the age of thirty-five (35)
years; must be a member of, and sponsored by, a political party; and must be
educated up to at least school certificate level or equivalent.
“Adherence to these clear constitutional provisions is
compulsory in order to avoid the unnecessary litigation that follow the
nomination of candidates, some of which are still pending before the courts.”
The INEC chairman urged security agencies and other
stakeholders to be proactive during the election.
“We must safeguard the process and protect all those involved
as voters, INEC officials, observers, the media and even some of the unarmed
security personnel deployed to the polling units,” he said, adding that “doing
so requires our professionalism and neutrality.”
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