The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, wants political parties to produce candidates from democratic, transparent and valid primaries, in line with the provisions of Sections 29 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the Commission warned that any party that fails to conduct its primaries according to the stipulated laws would be excluded from that particular election.
The Commission also restated its commitment to monitor the primaries of each political party.
The statement noted that party Primaries must be conducted in the various constituencies, as provided in Section 84 of the Electoral Act, as it is a violation of the law to conduct primaries outside the constituencies, for which the parties are nominating candidates.
The Commission added that it will not monitor such primaries, and their outcome will not be accepted.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)