2023 Elections: INEC Directs Parties To Conduct Primaries From April 4 – June 3

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has directed political parties to conduct their primaries from April 4 to June 3, 2022 in line with the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 General Elections it released on February 22.

Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee gave the directive in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

He reminded the political parties of the need to strictly conduct their primaries in line with the Section 84 of the Electoral Act which allows them a period of 61 days to do so.

According to him, so far, two out of the 14 activities in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities have been successfully accomplished and the next stage now is for parties to start conducting their primaries for selection of candidates.

“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,” he said.

Okoye reiterated 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,” he said.

The INEC National Commissioner also urged the political parties to ensure that their “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.”

Okoye then enjoined all registered political parties 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.”

The INEC had earlier announced that Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 25th February 2023, followed by the Governorship and State Assembly elections on Saturday, 11th March 2023