2023 Election: You Have Less Than A Month To Present Your Candidates – INEC Warns

In the run-up to the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned political parties to stick to the timeframe for holding primaries.

Festus Okoye, a National Commissioner of INEC and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), issued the warning on Thursday.

He noted that the commission announced the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election on February 26, 2022, which stipulated that parties hold their candidate nomination primary from April 4 to June 3, 2022.

He warned that primaries held beyond the deadline will be rejected by the commission.

Mr Festus said, “In compliance with section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, all 18 political parties have served the required notices indicating the dates for their conventions, congresses, and primaries for the purpose of nominating candidates for various elective offices as specified in the Constitution and the Electoral Act.”

“Some of the parties have already commenced the process for which the Commission has deployed staff to monitor the exercise as required by law.

“Given the importance of the exercise to the emergence of candidates for the various elective positions for the 2023 General Election, it is imperative to remind political parties that they have one month from today to conclude their primaries.

“The deadline remains Friday 3rd June 2022. While urging the parties to ensure rancour-free and transparent exercise, the Commission reiterates that the deadline is firm and fixed.”

He further stated that nominations for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will be accepted via the INEC web portal from June 10 to 17, while nominations for governorships and state legislatures will be accepted between July 1 and 15.

He said, “Political parties are further reminded that they must submit to the commission the list of candidates who must have emerged from valid primaries.”