The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has described the political party primaries across the country in 2018 as some of the worst ever.
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The INEC Chairman revealed this during a capacity-building workshop for journalists on Friday, jointly organised by INEC, European Centre for Electoral Support, European Union and European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria, where Mahmood pointed out that internal party democracy was mostly absent from political parties in Nigeria.
Mahmood Yakubu said the primaries conducted by the various political parties ahead of the 2019 elections are some of the most acrimonious in the nation’s history in recent times.
He said INEC had already been joined in about 396 pending cases in various courts across the country over the conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates.
Prof. Yakubu predicted that the commission would likely be joined in more cases if the request for 300 certified true copies of documents from the commission is anything to go by because it portends a prelude to more court actions.
He further revealed that INEC had received 52 petitions and letters of protests so far from aggrieved party aspirants over controversial primaries.
He said;
“Unfortunately, we have also witnessed some of the most acrimonious party primaries in our recent history. Internal party democracy is still a source of concern to our electoral progress. So far, the commission has been joined in 396 pending actions in various courts across the country arising from the conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates by political parties.
We have similarly received 302 requests for CTCs of documents, mainly our monitoring reports of party primaries and copies of personal particulars of candidates. These requests are obviously a prelude to more court actions. In addition, we have also received 52 petitions and protests from aggrieved party aspirants.
The implication of these challenges is that as we prepare for the general elections, we are also going to grapple with pre-election litigations.”
The chairman further revealed that about 73 political parties had filed their nominations before the deadline for the substitution and withdrawal of candidates for the 2019 presidential election elapsed.
He however pointed out that some of the nominated candidates were below the mandatory age of 35 for certain positions.
Mahmood, also gave an update on the number and gender of candidates competing for seats in the National Assembly saying about 6,483 candidates were jostling for 469 seats at the National Assembly.
“For National Assembly elections, a total of 1,848 candidates (1,615 males and 233 females) are vying for 109 senatorial seats while 4,635 candidates (4,066 males and 569 females) are competing for the 360 seats in the House of Representatives.
Similarly, the full list of candidates and their political parties will be published for public information in line with the commission’s timetable and schedule of activities.
As for state elections, a total of 1,068 candidates (980 males and 88 females) are contesting 29 governorship positions, with 805 males and 263 female deputy governorship candidates.
The commission is working on the list of candidates nominated by political parties for the 991 state assembly constituencies as well as the 68 area council chairmen and councillors for the Federal Capital Territory. The full details will also be published for public information in line with our timetable and schedule of activities.”
The INEC chairman however assured that the commission was ready to carry out free, fair and credible election saying INEC will not tolerate a breach of its timetable for the elections.
The INEC chairman concluded saying political parties that failed to respect the democratic process in selecting candidates during primary elections had lost the moral right to complain about secondary elections.
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