The Independent National Electoral Commission has directed political parties presenting candidates for the Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 19, 2020, to wrap up their primaries within the next 10 days.
The commission reminded interested parties that there would be no extension to the Saturday June 27 deadline.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said this during the second virtual consultative meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, on Wednesday.
Yakubu said, “Turning to the Edo governorship election, all political parties interested in fielding candidates for the election are reminded that they must conclude their primaries for the nomination of candidates in the next 10 days.
“The deadline is Saturday, June 27, 2020. I must stress that the date is firm and fixed. There will be no extension of the deadline.
“While the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates will be the sole responsibility of political parties, our officials will monitor the primaries as required by law.
Yakubu further said, “A candidate nominated by a political party must be a Nigerian citizen by birth; must have attained the age of 35; must be a member of and sponsored by a political party; and must be educated up to at least School Certificate level or equivalent.
“Adherence to these clear constitutional provisions is compulsory in order to avoid the unnecessary litigations that follow the nomination of candidates, some of which are still pending before the courts.”
