The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2023 election, has warned political parties against the violation of electoral timelines, as well as the provisions of the new Electoral Act, 2022.
The electoral body said it would stick to the timelines and also monitor the primaries of political parties, as it had released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections on February 26, 2022.
The Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Festus Okoye, issued a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
The statement reads, “The timetable provided detailed activities, including the conduct of primaries, the nomination of candidates by political parties, and other activities leading to the Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for Saturday, February 25, 2023, followed by the gubernatorial and state assembly elections on Saturday, March 11, 2023.
“All the activities are in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022.
“So far, two out of the 14 activities in the timetable and schedule of activities have been accomplished. The notice of election was published on February 28, 2022, while nomination forms have been made available on the Commission’s website since March 1, 2022, for political parties to download and issue to their candidates.
“The next activity is the conduct of primaries by political parties, which is in line with the dictates of Section 84 of the Electoral Act for which the timetable and schedule of activities provides a period of 61 days (April 4 to June 3, 2022).
“The commission wishes to reiterate that parties must adhere strictly to the principles of internal democracy, drawing from their constitutions, guidelines, the Electoral Act, and other regulations and guidelines issued by the commission.”
