By JOHN ONAH, Abuja –
The chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu has disclosed that less than one week to the close of nomination for Edo state off cycle election, only six political parties have so far submitted the names of their candidates to the commission.
Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the first regular quarterly meeting between the Commission and the political parties, Prof Yakubu told the political parties to abide by the scheduled timetable as released by the Commission, insisting that there will be no extension of time for the parties to upload the names of their candidates to the commission’s dedicated portal.
He said: “The Edo state governorship election is holding in the next six months i.e. Saturday 21st September 2024 while the Ondo State Governorship election is holding in eight months i.e. Saturday 16th November 2024.
“Already, party primaries for the Edo State Governorship election have been concluded. By the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, political parties have 20 days to upload the list and personal particulars of their candidates to our dedicated portal.
“We have trained party Liaison Officers and established a Help Desk for political parties. The portal opened on 4th March 2024 and will automatically shut down at 6 pm on Saturday 24th March 2024.
“In some cases, parties won elections in constituencies outside their assumed strongholds. We congratulate the winners.
“However, as you are aware, elections were disrupted by thugs in Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Enugu State and Kunchi/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State. We are engaging with stakeholders, including the security agencies. Very soon, a new date will be announced for the re-run elections in the two State constituencies.”
In his response, the Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Mamman Danielle said, the
leadership of IPAC will live up to its mandate to ensure an environment conducive for the conduct of successful elections.
Accordingly, IPAC will set up a Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments Committee to review glaring irregularities in recent elections and make proposals to the National Assembly in its ongoing Constitution and Electoral Act amendments.
“In this regard, IPAC will be proactive to ensure that the Edo and Ondo States gubernatorial elections meet the expectations of Nigerians and international community. There should be no excuse for poor performance. IPAC will constantly engage INEC and major stakeholders to ensure the success of these elections and will be there for mobilization of voters, sensitization and monitoring of polls”, he said.
He commended the leadership of INEC for its performance so far and added that so much was still needed to be done to improve the nation’s electoral process that will drastically reduce post-elections petitions and litigations.
“Just as Council will engage leaders of Political Parties on strict adherence to internal party democracy in the nomination of candidates for various elective offices which will in turn reduce pre- elections litigations. It is unfortunate that funds that should have been deployed to deepen party politics and structures in the country are spent on avoidable litigations that distracted, disorganized, disrupted and destabilized activities of most political parties and eventually change of leaderships. Most of these fictionalizations and imposition of candidates are sponsored by notorious godfathers and reactionary forces from other political parties to ensure they conquer the electoral process”.
This he said, must be resisted by all lovers of democracy in Nigeria noting that it is time to sanitize the electoral system, ensure integrity of elections that will reinforce citizens’ confidence in the nation’s emerging democracy. Inec
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