Anambra 2021: INEC Says Only 18 Parties Can Contest
…Insists It Will Not Monitor Any Primaries by Deregistered Parties The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says only 18 parties are eligible to offer candidates for the Anambra...
…Insists It Will Not Monitor Any Primaries by Deregistered Parties
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says only 18 parties are eligible to offer candidates for the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November this year, stressing that it will not monitor any primaries organised by any of the 74 deregistered political parties.
INEC said on Friday that the status of the parties remains invalid pending a final decision by the Supreme Court.
The Commission had deregistered the parties in February 2020, after citing their failure to meet certain criteria listed in the constitution including winning at least 25 percent of the votes cast in one state in a presidential election or 25 percent of the votes cast in one local government area.
But dissatisfied with that action, some of the parties went to court to contest the Commission’s decision.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, says in a statement in Abuja, that while the final verdict is being awaited, some of the parties deregistered have been writing the Commission to inform it of their plans to conduct primary elections.
Okoye said, “The Commission will continue to recognize and deal with only the 18 registered political parties pending the final resolution and determination of the various appeals filed and pending before the Supreme Court.
“Consequently, INEC will not monitor any purported primaries by any of the deregistered political parties and will not issue access code to or accept the list and particulars of candidates emanating from such primaries.”
While noting the conflicting judgements of the Court of Appeal on the matter, he said, it is “in the interest of the electoral process” for both matters to be consolidated before any action is taken.
“The electoral process will be better served through a final resolution of the issues in the deregistration of political parties. It will also enable the Commission to stand on firm grounds rather than pick and choose which between two conflicting decisions it should obey,” Okoye said.
The INEC had slated the Anambra Governorship poll for November 6, 2021. It also said party primaries and resolution of disputes arising from the primaries would take place between June 10 and July 1.
Said Okoye while announcing the election date, “By virtue of Section 178(1) & (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 25(7) & (8) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), election into the office of a State Governor shall hold not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.
“Constitutionally and statutorily, the tenure of the governor of Anambra will expire on March 17, 2022 and the earliest date for the Election into the office of Governor, Anambra, shall be Oct. 18, 2021 and the latest date for the election shall be Feb. 15, 2022.
“In the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the Constitution, the Electoral Act and all other powers enabling it in that regard, INEC has fixed Nov. 6 as the date for the conduct of the Anambra Governorship election,” Mr Okoye said.
“Consequently, the Commission hereby issues the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.
“By the timetable and schedule of activities, the Commission will issue the statutory Notice for Election on June 9.
“The Collection of Forms EC9 (Formerly CF001) and EC9B (Formerly CF002) for the election will take place on June 10, and the conduct of party primaries and resolution of disputes arising from the primaries will take place from June 10 to July 1,” he said.
Mr Okoye said the particulars of the candidates for the election would be published on July 16, while parties would commence campaigns on August 8.
“The final list of nominated candidates will be published on Oct. 7,” he said.
Mr Okoye asked all registered political parties ”to pay close attention to the timelines and schedule of activities outlined in the timetable and schedule of activities as they were constitutional and statutory provisions”.
He also appealed to political parties to conduct rancour-free primaries, and guarantee level playing field for all aspirants and conduct necessary due diligence on all forms and documents that will be submitted to the Commission.
“The Commission is concerned about the spate of acrimonious primaries as well as the nomination of unqualified candidates, which results in avoidable litigations, and the nullification of elections by Election Petition Tribunals,” he said.
Meanwhile, the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to embark on immediate electoral reform that will guarantee free, fair, and transparent elections in 2023.
National Chairman of the Party, Uche Secondus, disclosed this at a meeting held on Wednesday at PDP national headquarters in Abuja.
“We urge President Buhari and his APC administration to embark on immediate electoral reform that will ensure free, fair, and transparent election in the country and put Nigeria in the piety with other developed democracies in the world, just like Ghana,” Secondus said.
The party accused the President and the ruling party, APC of putting hurdles in the way to conducting credible elections and warns that the citizens will not accept this.
Photo: Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner
