Edo Elections: INEC Gives Political Parties 10-Day Ultimatum To Wrap Up Primaries

Nigeria's electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has given all political parties participating in the upcoming Edo State governorship election slated for September 19, 2020, ten days to wrap up their primaries.

INEC's Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, who declared this said that,  "the date is firm and fixed," and that "There will be no extension of the deadline."

Mahmood said, “Turning to the Edo governorship election, all political parties interested in fielding candidates for the election are reminded that they must conclude their primaries for the nomination of candidates in the next 10 days.

“The deadline is Saturday, June 27, 2020. I must stress that the date is firm and fixed. There will be no extension of the deadline.

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“While the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates will be the sole responsibility of political parties, our officials will monitor the primaries as required by law.

“Already, the commission has published the date and mode of primaries for each of the 15 political parties that indicated their intention to participate in the election.

“Similarly, there will be no extension of time for political parties that fail to submit the names and other details of the candidates that emerge from their primaries using the dedicated portal created by the commission. For emphasis, the deadline is 6pm on Monday, June 29, 2020.

“A candidate nominated by a political party must be a Nigerian citizen by birth; must have attained the age of 35; must be a member of and sponsored by a political party; and must be educated up to at least School Certificate level or equivalent.

“Adherence to these clear constitutional provisions is compulsory in order to avoid the unnecessary litigations that follow the nomination of candidates, some of which are still pending before the courts.”