The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has revealed that 16 political parties have notified the commission of their intention to participate in the forthcoming Edo governorship election scheduled for September 2024.
The commission also revealed that it has also been notified
by the political parties of their preferred modes and dates of primaries.
INEC National Commissioner and Information and Voter
Education Committee Chairman Sam Olumekun, in a statement issued on Thursday,
recalled that the commission released the timetable and schedule of activities
for the Edo State off-cycle governorship election.
He said among the activities listed for the election is the
conduct of primaries by political parties scheduled for February 1–24, 2024.
Olumekun noted that under Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act
2022, political parties are required to give the commission at least 21 days’
notice before the date fixed for the conduct of their primaries.
He said the last date for such notification lapsed on
February 4, 2024.
Olumekun added: “Sixteen political parties have notified the
Commission of their intention to participate in the election as well as their
preferred modes and dates of primaries.
“As the Commission is set to deploy its monitoring teams,
political parties are hereby reminded that Edo State is the constituency for
the election. Therefore, primaries must take place within the state in line
with Sections 84(4) and 5(b) of the Electoral Act 2022.”
The commission urged political parties to avoid unnecessary
postponement, arbitrary changes of venues for their primaries, wholesale
changes of delegates’ lists, or the submission of names that did not emerge
from valid primaries as candidates for the election.
The electoral body also urged political parties to avoid
rancorous primaries that lead to the breakdown of law and order, often as a
result of non-adherence to the provisions of their constitutions and
guidelines.
It said these are some of the issues that lead to a large
number of pre-election litigations.
The commission said the schedule, dates, and modes of
primaries proposed by the political parties have been uploaded to its website
and social media platforms for public information.
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