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2023: INEC Extends Deadline For Party Primaries By Six Days

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to conduct their primaries for the 2023 general elections.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, announced this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

This comes hours after leaders of various political parties met with the leadership of the electoral umpire led by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, at the commission’s headquarters in the nation’s capital.

At the meeting, the politicians under the auspices of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) again appealed to INEC to adjust the timetable for the forthcoming polls.

Chairman of IPAC, Sani Yabagi of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), explained that adjusting the timetable of the election became necessary because of the current timetable which he said was too tight for the political parties.

In response to the appeal, INEC, according to Okoye, was emphatic that the request for a 37 – 60 days extension of the timeline for primaries and the nomination of candidates could not be granted because it would disrupt other scheduled activities on the timetable.

He stated that the parties later pleaded with the commission to use the six-day period between June 4 and 9 to conclude outstanding primaries and prepare to upload the list of candidates and their affidavits on the INEC Candidates Nomination Portal.

The INEC official stated that the commission did not schedule any specific activity during this period in order to give parties time to compile the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates before uploading same to its portal.

“The commission has decided to allow the request of the political parties since the six-day period does not conflict with the next scheduled activity which is the submission of the list of nominated candidates or any of the subsequent timelines which remain sacrosanct,” he said.

“However, this request is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only without prejudice to those already concluded by political parties. The commission will not monitor already concluded primaries.”

May 28, 2022
Edet, Etteh, Esset, Ors emerge PDP Flag-Bearers in A’Ibom Reps Primaries

Immediate past Akwa Ibom Commissioners for Agriculture and Special Duties, Dr Glory Edet amd Chief Okpolupm Etteh and House of Assembly member for Nsit Atai, Mark Esset have emerged PDP flag-bearers after the House of Representatives primary elections held across ten federal constituencies on Sunday.

Also to represent the party in same capacity at the primaries conducted across the state on Sunday evening is a former member of the House of Assembly, Mr Ime Okon for Itu, incumbents Mr Unyime Idem for Ukanafun Federal Constituency and Mr Aniekan Umanah for Abak Federal Constituency, Idongesit Ntekpere for Ikot Ekpene and former state PDP chairman Mr Paul Ekpo for Etinan Federal Constituencies.

The primaries conducted for the 31 Local government areas for the state House of Assembly also saw to the emergence of Prince Akpabio for Essien Udim, Udeme Otong- Abak, Udofia Friday Udobia – Esit Eket/Ibeno, Eric Akpan- Nsit Ibom, Mfon Idung- Etim Ekpo/Ika and Uwemedimo Asuquo – Uyo.

Other LGAs and their flag bearers include; Ibiono Ibom: -Godwin Ekpo, Ikot Ekpene/ Obot Akara: Mr Jerry Otu, ONNA: Sunny Johnny, Nsit Atai: Prince Aniefiok Attah
Nsit Ubium: Hon Barr Otobong Bob, Ukanafun: Emem Udom, Itu: Hon KufreAbasi Edidem
Oron/ Udung Uko: Hon Mrs Kenim Onofiok, Uruan; Dr Itoro Etim, INI: Hon Lawrence Udoide, Etinan: Uduak Ekpo-Ufot.

Also to represent the party for the state house include: Ikono: Itoro Columba, Ibesikpo Asutan: Ubong Attah, Okobo: Pius Bassey, Mkpat Enin:wem Imo-Ita, Oruk Anam:Prince Sampson Idiong, Urue Offong/Oruko – Precious Selong.

Two of the candidates for ONNA and Nsit Ubium state constituencies, Sunny Johnny and Otobong Bob respectively commended the delegates for their trust in them and pledged to ensure victory for PDP at the general elections

State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Aniekan Akpan had in a chat with newsmen before the primaries assured aspirants on the party’s platform of a free, fair and transparent primary elections ahead of 2023 general elections.

“The primary election will be very open and transparent. There’s going to be voting. The national Secretariat is coming. everybody is going to the field. The delegates are known delegates. And the party guideline is very clear. The guideline says it has to be taken to the various constituencies.

“We have made an arrangement to ensure that whatever is being taken from here (party secretariat) will get to each constituency. It will be a contest of brothers and sisters, a family affair. And we have appealed to everybody that there should be no rancour.” Akpan said.

May 22, 2022
2023: PDP reveals delegates eligible for Primaries

Ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention slated for 28 and 29 May to elect its 2023 Presidential candidate, the party has said those eligible to vote are the 3 ad-hoc delegates elected at the Ward Congresses and a National Delegate per Local Government.

PDP made this known in a statement by its National Organizing Secretary, Hon. Umar M. Nature on Saturday.

The opposition party explained that by Section 84(8) of the Electoral Act, 2022, delegates to vote at the Indirect Primaries and National Convention of political parties to elect candidates for elections shall be those democratically elected for that purpose only.

The statement partly read “Consequently those qualified and eligible to vote as delegates in the forthcoming Primaries and National Convention of our great Party, the PDP are the three (3) AD-HOC Delegates per ward, elected at the Ward Congresses and one (1) National Delegate per Local Government, elected at the Local Government Area Congresses.

“Furthermore, the NWC wishes to inform our Party members that the State Houses of Assembly Primaries to elect our State House of Assembly candidates, earlier scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 2022 will now hold on Sunday, May 22, 2022 from 8:00am to 12 noon; while the House of Representatives Primaries to elect our House of Representatives candidates will also hold on Sunday, May 22, 2022 from 2:00 pm”.

PDP charged all aspirants, critical stakeholders, leaders and its teeming members to take note.

May 21, 2022
2023 Elections: No Extension Of Timeline For Party Primaries – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday said it has no intention of extending the timeline for party primaries.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the comment while speaking at a consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.

Political parties in the country had asked INEC to extend the timelines for the 2023 general elections by two months.

Specifically, the parties want slight changes to the primaries’ timeline, as stipulated by the electoral umpire.

But Yakubu insisted the timeline for primaries remains fixed between April 4 and June 3.

“Twice in the last two weeks, the Commission had cause to remind political parties of the necessity for strict compliance with the timelines for party primaries,” the INEC Chairman said.

“I hereby reiterate the position of the Commission that there will be no review of the timelines. There are so many inter-related activities that are associated with the timelines which must be carried out. Any review to extend the timeline for one activity will affect other activities and put unnecessary pressure on political parties and the Commission. This will ultimately result in more complications than what the extension seeks to achieve.

“Therefore, the Commission will not review the timelines. Working together, we should ensure fidelity to the timelines in conducting transparent and democratic primaries for the purpose of electing candidates for the 1,491 constituencies for which elections will be held on 25th February and 11th March 2023.”

Yakubu asked the parties to ensure their primaries make room for Women, youths and persons with disability.

“To assure citizens that you are not paying lip service to this commitment, political parties should encourage greater involvement of all under-represented segments of the society as candidates for elections,” he said.

“This is the only way we can change the reality of increasingly low level of representation of these critical segments of the society in legislative assemblies in particular and the governance of our country in general.”

May 10, 2022
No Decision Has Been Taken Yet On Zoning, Mode Of Primaries – APC Spokesman

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has said the party is yet to take a decision on zoning, as well as the mode of primaries it will adopt ahead of the 2023 Presidential Election.

Morka said this on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, hours after reports suggested that the party may have decided on the indirect mode of primaries.

“That was not decided today”, he said when asked to make the clarification. On the issue of zoning, he said: No. That also was not in conversation today. But in the coming days, I’m sure the party will make a decision, now that the NWC has the authority to decide on those questions”.

Reports of the APC adopting the Indirect mode of primaries surfaced earlier in the day following the party’s 11th National Executive Committee meeting which took place at the Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.

“There was no explicit discussion about the mode of primary but the timetable seems to suggest it is indirect primaries,” Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State had said after the meeting.

Several high-profile politicians in the country have indicated an interest in vying for the presidential ticket of the ruling party.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo last week formally declared his intention to contest for the post. Hours ago, the Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige also joined the race.

The Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi; former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu; Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and his Ebonyi counterpart Dave Umahi have also formally declared their intention for the presidential seat.

Party For The Rich?
As the jostle for the number one seat intensifies, it has also become clear that the position comes at a high price.

Morka announced earlier in the day that those willing to participate in the presidential primary of the party are to pay N100 million for the nomination and expression of interest forms.

Similarly, the nomination and expression of interest forms for those seeking the party’s ticket to contest the governorship election in their respective states cost N50 million.

When asked what informed the prices, considering the economic challenge of the country, the party spokesperson said it was a decision that was agreed upon within the party.

According to him, no economy anywhere else in the world is perfect and despite that, “there are people who still live opulent lives ad make legitimate money” in Nigeria.

“Our party is not for the rich,” he stated further. “The party came to a decision that the value placed on these forms are justified”.

April 21, 2022
APC Fixes Dates For Presidential, NASS, Governorship And Assembly Primaries

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed May 30th, 2022 for the party’s presidential primary. It also proposed dates for the governorship, House of Assembly, and National Assembly primaries.

The ruling party also said it plans to hold the House of Assembly primaries on May 17th and May 19th for the House of Representatives.

According to the APC, the primary for the Senate is billed for May 21st while the governorship primaries would be held on May 24th.

Details later…

April 6, 2022
2023: Conduct Democratic Primaries Or Face Disqualification, INEC Warns Political Parties

Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday advised political parties to ensure their primaries are properly conducted in line with relevant laws.

The advice was contained in a statement signed by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.

Mr Okoye warned that the electoral agency will not hesitate to disqualify parties in primaries that do not adhere strictly to the principles of internal democracy.

He also advised parties to avoid contentious primaries that may lead to unnecessary lawsuits.

“Nigerians may recall that on Saturday 26th February 2022, the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election,” the statement read.

“The Timetable provides detailed activities, including the conduct of primaries, nomination of candidates by political parties and other activities leading to the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday 25th February 2023, followed by the Governorship and State Assembly elections on Saturday 11th March 2023. All the activities are in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.

“So far, two out of the 14 activities in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities have been successfully accomplished. The Notice of Election was published on 28th February 2022, while nomination forms have been made available on the Commission’s website since 1st March 2022 for political parties to download and issue to their candidates.

“The next activity is the conduct of primaries by political parties in line with the dictates of Section 84 of the Electoral Act for which the Timetable and Schedule of Activities provides a period of 61 days (4th April to 3rd June 2022).

“The Commission wishes to reiterate that parties must adhere strictly to the principles of internal democracy, drawing from their constitutions, guidelines, the Electoral Act and other Regulations and Guidelines issued by the Commission. Their candidates for the 1,491 constituencies for which elections will be conducted in 2023 must emerge from democratic, transparent and valid primaries, in line with the provisions of Sections 29 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022. Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of the Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue.

“As required by law, the Commission shall monitor the primaries of each political party that provides the required legal notice in line with Sections 82 (1) and (5) of the Electoral Act. Failure of a political party to notify the Commission of any convention or congress convened for the purpose of nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified in the Act shall render the convention or congress invalid.

“Primaries must be conducted in the various constituencies as provided in Section 84 of the Electoral Act as it is a violation of the law to conduct primaries outside the constituencies for which parties are nominating candidates. The Commission will not monitor such primaries and their outcome will not be accepted.

“Political parties are enjoined to avoid acrimonious primaries that could result in unnecessary litigations that may lead to failure to nominate and field candidates for elections in some constituencies.”

April 6, 2022
Ondo Guber: 17 parties notify INEC of primaries

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said 17 out of the 18 registered political parties had notified the Commission of their intention to conduct primaries for the Ondo Governorship election fixed for Oct. 10.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in Abuja after the commission’s meeting.
It said that only the Boot Party did not give any notification of its intention to conduct primaries for the governorship election.
He said the notification was in compliance with section 85 (1) of the Electoral Act.
The Act made it mandatory for registered parties to give the Commission at least 21 days notice of any congress or meeting convened for the purpose of nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified in the Act.
It said that details of the political parties and their calendar of Congresses/Primaries (including dates and modes of primaries) had been published on the commission’s website and social media platforms.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that according to the calendar of congress and primaries released by the commission, all the 17 political parties opted for indirect primaries.

While the All Progressive Congress (APC) gave the notification of July 20 for its primaries, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), settled for July 22 and July 23 for its primaries in the state.
The statement said that by Section 87 (2) of the Electoral Act, parties had the exclusive discretion to determine the procedure for the nomination of candidates which should be by direct or indirect primaries.
“All the 17 political parties notified the commission of their intention to conduct indirect primaries for the nomination of their candidates.
“Political parties are reminded that they are required to submit a comprehensive list of all the delegates eligible to participate in the primaries at least seven days before the scheduled date.
“The INEC portal for uploading nomination forms will open on July 21, and close on at 6pm on July 28,” it added.
It urged political parties not to wait until the last day before submitting the names of their nominated candidates.
“Political parties must observe all the health protocols and guidelines made available to them by the commission, the Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the State Government.
“They must also enforce the policy of “No Mask, No Voting” in their primaries,” it added.
On the Edo state governorship election, the statement said that 14 political parties conducted primaries and nominated their candidates for the election holding on Sept. 19.
It reminded parties that going by the timetable and schedule of activities for the election, campaign in public would begin on June 21, and end on Sept. 17, that is “24 hours before polling day as enshrined in Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as emended).
“Political parties are hereby reminded that in canvassing for votes, they must comply with the commission’s policy on Conducting Elections in the Context of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the Regulations and Guidelines governing same.
“They must also comply with the guidelines issued by health authorities.
“At the same time, parties are enjoined to conduct issue-based campaigns in accordance with the Regulations and Guidelines issued by the commission.
“They should appeal to their supporters to shun inflammatory rhetoric and disruptive behaviour capable of breaching the peace.
“The election is an opportunity for the people of Edo to choose among the 14 candidates in the contest.”
The statement said that the commission was concerned that during campaigns, campaign councils rather than candidates and party manifestoes were taking centre stage.
“The election should be a contest of ideas and programmes for the people of Edo to make informed decisions for the development of their state,” it said.
It said that the commission also at its regular weekly meeting deliberated on the Nasarawa Central State Assembly by-election.

It said that two political parties, the APC and the PDP, had conducted their primaries and nominated candidates, using the dedicated portal for the state constituency by-election.
“The personal particulars, including academic qualifications of the candidates have been pasted in the INEC Nasarawa Local Government Area office in Nasarawa state and uploaded on the commission’s website.”(NAN)

July 10, 2020
Edo 2020: APC, PDP, 13 others ready for primaries – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday said 15 out of the 18 registered political parties have stated their intention to conduct primaries ahead of the Edo governorship election.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman (Information and Voter Education Committee), Festus Okoye, said this while giving an update on the conduct of primaries for the Edo State governorship election in a statement.

He listed the party as the parties are Action Alliance, African. Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, African Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Allied Peoples Movement, and Action Peoples Party.

Others are Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, National Rescue Movement, Peoples Democratic Party, Social Democratic Party, Young Progressive Party, and Zenith Labour Party.

Okoye said, “In accordance with Sections 85 and 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), 15 out of the 18 registered political parties have notified the commission of their intention to conduct primaries for the purpose of nominating candidates for the Edo State governorship election slated for September 19 2020.

“By the timetable and schedule of activities issued by the Commission on February 6, 2020, party primaries for the Edo governorship election will take place between June 2 and 27.

June 10, 2020