Technocrat Media, Abuja
Amid some parallel primaries being held by political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will recognise factions with eligible delegates as monitored by the commission.
INEC in a recent memo to all political parties said it would only recognise delegates produced by congresses that were duly monitored by the commission.
According to TheCable, the memo signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC’s secretary, the commission made the decision based on section 84 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022.
According to the section “A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions which shall be monitored by the commission.”
“In line with this provision the commission shall, in monitoring primaries, only recognize delegates that emerge from congresses duly monitored by the commission,” the letter reads.
Parallel primaries witnessed so far
The main Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was reported to have held parallel governorship primaries in Ogun, Edo, Ebonyi, and Akwa Ibom states.
This means, that PDP now has two governorship candidates that emerged from the four states which are against the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
Also, in Abia, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has produced more than one candidate in some offices as it witnessed three parallel primaries.
In some other states, parallel primaries were held for the house of assembly and national assembly elections.
The implication of the Electoral Act
INEC through its memo said only winners from primaries where the ad hoc delegates who voted were elected from congresses as monitored by the commission would be recognised.
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