Parties get six days extension as INEC extends primaries’ deadline

The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for the conduct of primary elections by approving an additional six days.

INEC, however, clarified that the extension is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only and not those already concluded.

The INEC Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said this in a statement on Friday after the meeting of the commission and the leadership of the 18 registered political parties under the aegis of the Inter-Party Advisory Council in Abuja.

The statement reads in part, “The commission has decided to allow the request of the political parties since the six-day period does not conflict with the next scheduled activity which is the submission of the list of nominated candidates or any other subsequent timelines which remain sacrosanct.

“However, this request is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only without prejudice to those already concluded by political parties. The commission will not monitor already concluded primaries.”

“Based on the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election, the parties have now pleaded with the commission to use the six-day period between June 4-9 2022 to conclude outstanding primaries and prepare to upload the list of candidates and their affidavits on the INEC candidates nomination portal.”