By Balarabe Oshiafi
To minimize litigations, remove impediments in the electioneering process, political parties need to muster a disciplined application of laid down rules, Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu has said.
He handed down this admonition at the first regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties held on Tuesday at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
While welcoming stakeholders to the meeting, Yakubu averred that it was teething to “mobilize, demobilize and remobilize” men and materials for election due to “acrimonious primaries” adding that monies spent on avoidable litigations could be channelled towards more productive ise.
INEC Chairman also said that “this is also our first meeting since the election of a new leadership for the umbrella body of political parties in Nigeria, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). It is therefore appropriate on this occasion to congratulate the new Chairman of IPAC who is also the Chairman of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), Yusuf Dantalle, and other officials of the Council on their election”
He gave an update thus: “Today’s meeting is the first since the conclusion of the bye-elections and Court-ordered re-run elections held last month in 26 States of the Federation. With the exception of two constituencies in Enugu and Kano States, winners have emerged from the bye-elections and rerun elections.
“Again, like the 2023 General Election, the recent bye-elections and re-run elections also produced the most diverse outcome in terms of party representation. Seven political parties won elections in different National and State Assembly constituencies. 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”.
On preparation for the fourth coming off-circle elections, the INEC Boss had this to say, ‘The main focus of today’s meeting is the off-cycle Governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States. As you are aware, the two elections are holding later this year.
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 16thNovember 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 6pm on Saturday 24thMarch 2024. Two weeks later, only six parties have uploaded their nominations to the portal. We urge you to keep to our schedule of activities and avoid last minute rush that may undermine your ability to successfully nominate your candidates.
“There will be no extension of time beyond the deadline already published in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, to enable us publish the personal particulars of candidates (Form EC9) on 31st March 2024 as required by law.
“For the Ondo State Governorship election, party primaries begin in the next two weeks on 6thApril 2024 and ends three weeks later on 27thApril 2024. So far, 16 out of 19 political parties have indicated interest in participating in the election.
“I urge political parties to adhere strictly to your proposed dates and modes of primaries. Frequent changes as we witnessed recently during the Edo primaries are not only disruptive but cost.”
No Comments