INEC insists that the July 15 date for submission of governorship and House of Assembly candidates’ lists, remains sacrosanct.
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has maintained that the July 15 deadline it set for the submission of the list of governorship and House of Assembly candidates by political parties, will not be shifted. It therefore asked political parties to ensure compliance with the date.
The deadline was set in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 elections by the electoral umpire.
It urged political parties that conducted valid governorship and House of Assembly primaries to adhere strictly to the timetable as the Nomination Portal will shut down at 6pm on July 15.
INEC issued the advice in a statement signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.
The commission advised: “Political parties that have challenges with uploading documents should contact the Commission’s Help – Desk, through the dedicated telephone lines or contact the candidate nomination centre at the Commission’s headquarters.”
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It further urged the parties to scrutinise the personal particulars of the candidates before submission.
The statement reads: “By the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the Commission, Political Parties that conducted valid Governorship and State Assembly primaries shall upload the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates between 1st and 15th July 2022.
“We urge political parties to scrutinize the list and personal particulars of the candidates they propose to sponsor at the election to avoid any mix-up and duplication of names. Political parties are advised not to wait until the last day before uploading the list and personal particulars of their candidates.
“The Candidates Nomination Portal will shut down at 6pm on 15th July 2022. Political parties that have challenges with uploading documents should contact the Commission’s Help – Desk, through the dedicated telephone lines or contact the candidate nomination centre at the Commission’s headquarters.”
On the issue of Voter registration, the commission said: “The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will continue nationwide, and all the Resident Electoral Commissioners and Electoral Officers have been directed to continue with the exercise pending further directives from the Commission.
“The Commission has consistently reiterated its resolve to continue to provide electoral services to the Nigerian people and register all eligible Nigerians that are interested in registering. The Commission has yet again deployed additional machines to areas of pressure and will continue to serve the people of Nigeria.
“Furthermore, the case at the Federal High Court relating to the terminal date of the CVR came up yesterday Wednesday 29th June 2022, and based on the request of the Commission, the Court granted an accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter to Monday 4th July 2022 for hearing of the substantive matter. The Commission will give an update after court hearing next week.”
The Commission also confirmed the increasing requests by political parties and interested individuals for the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of documents.
According to INEC, no fewer than 186 of such requests have been received. It assured that all the requests would be attended to.
“The Commission has been inundated with applications for CTCs of various documents. So far, 186 requests for CTCs, some running into hundreds of pages, have been processed. The Commission is working round the clock, including weekends, to attend to all such requests.
“We wish to assure political parties, aspirants, candidates, and all applicants for CTCs of documents that their applications will be treated expeditiously and will be issued in earnest”, the statement added.
