Chairman, of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on Thursday threw a challenge at the media urging it to engage with Political Parties as well as their aspirants and report on the primaries of political parties with the same diligence and depth it reports on the main election conducted by INEC.

Prof. Yakubu who said this at the first quarterly consultative meeting with the media said in Abuja: “Doing so will go a long way to strengthen our democracy since only the products of the party primaries are ultimately placed on the ballot paper for citizens to vote for in the main election. Party primaries are as important as the main election conducted by INEC”.

INEC Chairman with his National Commissioners

The electoral boss said the Commission has maintained the tradition of regular consultations with stakeholders which is critical to elections and electoral activities said: “I am glad to note that working together, we have sustained the consultative engagements arising from which important suggestions and recommendations have been made for the improvement of the electoral process in Nigeria”.

Speaking on elections in the country, Prof. Yakubu said there is no election season in Nigeria any longer adding that elections are held regularly and all-year round between one general election and another.

The INEC boss said the Commission is currently involved in seven different types of elections: general elections, bye-elections, off-cycle elections, supplementary elections, re-run elections, referendum and recall explained that the Edo Governorship election will hold on Saturday 21 September 2024 while that of Ondo State is scheduled for Saturday 16 November 2024.

INEC Chairman with Executive Director, International Press Centre

Speaking on the spread of fake news and misinformation instantly and on a global scale, Prof. Yakubu said INEC does not believe in censorship stressing that the best antidote to fake news is greater openness and transparency.

“It is in furtherance of this policy that the Commission interfaces regularly with stakeholders through our regular consultative meetings. We appreciate our partnership with the media and I want to reassure you that INEC will continue to work closely with you”, he said.

Prof. Yakubu said the Commission welcomes media reports, commentaries and analyses on elections in particular and electoral activities in general stressing that some of the innovations introduced by the Commission to improve service delivery to the electorate, ensure the safety and security of journalists and grant them unimpeded access to various locations during elections and electoral activities are products of media reports as well as the suggestions and recommendations made during our quarterly meetings.

In his remarks, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Dr Chris Isiguzo said the meeting marked a significant milestone in our democratic journey, as we come together to reaffirm our commitment to transparent, credible, and inclusive electoral processes.

The NUJ President commended the unwavering commitment of the Commission in upholding the highest standards of electoral integrity and transparency stressing that: “Your dedication to ensuring that every vote counts and every voice is heard is commendable and serves as a beacon of hope for our democracy”.

Dr. Isiguzo expressed appreciation to the media for their indispensable role as the watchdogs of democracy, stressing that: “your tireless efforts in promoting public awareness, scrutinizing electoral processes, and holding stakeholders accountable contribute significantly to the integrity and credibility of our electoral system”.

INEC Chairman greeting IPAC Chairman Yusuf Mamman Dantale

It has been a three-day marathon event by the Commission meeting with important stakeholders in the electoral process. On Tuesday the electoral body said it will no longer register any election observer that fails to submit its report, after monitoring elections it conducted.

INEC Chairman ,Prof. Yakubu, said this at the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), for 2024 , however, urged those yet to submit their observation reports for the 2023 general elections and other off-cycle and re-run elections to do so.

He said the electoral body always appreciated the observations and recommendations contained in the CSOs’ election observation reports stressing that: “Some of the reforms and innovations introduced by the commission over the years were drawn from your observation reports”.

In her remarks, the Executive Director, Sustainable Gender Action Initiative, Hadjia Mufuliat Fijabi, pledged that the CSOs would also strengthen their observations of parties’ primaries, leading to the emergence of candidates for elections.

Hadjia Fijabi said observation of the primaries remained important because there was a need for more inclusive elections in the country that truly would reflect representation of more women, youth and PWDs.

The electoral body said there will be no extension of time beyond the deadline already published in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Edo Governorship election.

Specifically, the electoral body said it would publish the personal particulars of candidates (Form EC9) on 31st March 2024 as required by law.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu who disclosed this at this year’s first regular quarterly Consultative meeting with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) for 2024 said the Edo state Governorship Election portal opened on 4th March 2024 and will automatically shut down at 6 pm on Saturday 24th Match 2024 stressing that two weeks after the portal was opened, only six political 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”, Prof Yakubu said .

For the Ondo State Governorship election, Prof Yakubu said party primaries will begin in the next two weeks on 6th April 2024 and ends three weeks later on 27th April 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 costly. The Commission cannot mobilise, demobilise and remobilise our officials for the monitoring of party primaries at the convenience of political parties. Parties should stick to their proposed dates and modes of primaries for certainty and optimal deployment of resources”, he said.

In his remarks, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle said the election of the IPAC Executive has further deepened the foundations and frontiers of the Council as the umbrella body of all registered Political Parties strongly determined to usher a new, better and greater Nigeria. By this election the dignity of the Council has been restored.

According to him, this leadership of the Council is visionary, purposeful, vibrant, resourceful, accommodating and will take IPAC to the next level in the quest for a strong, virile, united, progressive, prosperous, equitable and just democratic nation.

He promised that IPAC will ensure enforcement of the current Code of Conduct for Political Parties which will be reviewed to accommodate recent developments not captured in the Code of Conduct adding that :”When leaders of political parties and political office holders live up to expectations, Nigerians will have a breath of fresh air in governance”.