Four Days To The Deadline In Edo Governorship, Only 6 Parties File Nominations —INEC
Four days to the March 24 deadline for nomination of governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the September 21, 2024 election in Edo State, The Courage.
Only six of the 18 registered political parties have filed their nominations, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said.
Making the disclosure, yesterday, the electoral umpire cautioned political parties against granting unnecessary waivers to new entrants and offering them their tickets, saying such development has continued to put a lot of litigation costs on the commission.
This was as it told parties seeking participation in the election that it would not extend the March 24 timeline for the nomination of their candidates.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this at the first regular quarterly consultative meeting with political parties.
He said: “Already, party primaries for the Edo State governorship election have been concluded. By the timetable and schedule of activities for the election, political parties have 20 days to upload the list and personal particulars of their candidates to our dedicated portal.
“We have trained party liaison officers and established a help desk for political parties. The portal opened on 4th March 2024 and will automatically shut down at 6pm on Saturday 24th March 2024.
“Two weeks later, only six 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.
“There will be no extension of time beyond the deadline already published in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, to enable us to publish the personal particulars of candidates (Form EC9) on 31st March 2024 as required by law.” He said for the Ondo State governorship election, party primaries will begin in the next two weeks on April 6, 2024 and end three weeks later on April 27
