– No political party has submitted its list of candidates contesting the 2019 general elections to INEC
– The electoral umpire stated this on Thursday, October 11
– INEC is expecting list of candidates contesting the elections from 89 political parties
As the 2019 general elections draw nearer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said no political party has submitted its list of candidates to the commission.
Punch reports that the commission made the disclosure in a statement signed by a national commissioner and member, Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Haruna, on Thursday, October 11.
TRACKNEWS.NG gathers the commission had directed political parties to begin the submission of list of candidates by October 9.
According to INEC, the deadline for the submission of names of presidential and National Assembly candidates is October 18, while that of the gubernatorial and states assembly is November 12.
The statement released by the commission read in part: “INEC held its usual weekly meeting on October 11 and noted that none of the 89 registered political parties that notified the commission of their intention to conduct their primaries has submitted the list of its sponsored candidates (Form CF002) and personal particulars (Form 001) to the centre designated by the commission for the collection of the said documents.”
However, according to a source within INEC, the delay is due to the fact that many political parties are trying to address the problems that arose following the conduct of the primaries.
Meanwhile, TRACKNEWS.NG previously reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) advised political parties and their candidates to adhere to electoral timetable on commencement of election campaigns ahead of the 2019 general elections.
The chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, gave the advice at the workshop for election professionals from the Commonwealth Africa Region on Monday, October 8, in Abuja.
Yakubu reminded political parties and candidates that the end of primaries did not mean the immediate commencement of campaigns.
He said: “Section 99(1) prohibits campaigns by political parties earlier than 90 days before polling day. Therefore, going by the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities issued by the Commission, campaign for Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on November 18.”
