*Directs parties to submit theirs to the Commission not later than 30 days to primary
By Ezechukwu Chidozie
With jusy few weeks to the commencement of activities to kick-start political parties primaries nationwide, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that only one out of the 18 registered political parties in Nigeria has authenticated Membership Register.
The Commission has therefore reminded the polarties that it is a mandatory that all of them are required to comply, in accordance with the provision of Section 77 of the Electoral Act (2022), which states that each party is required to maintain a Membership Register in hard and soft copy.
The electoral umpire made this known during a remark by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at the Second Regular Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), held at Conference Room, INEC Headquarters, Abuja on Friday.
According to the INEC boss, the above mentioned Section of the Electoral Act 2022 also made it mandatory that political parties should make such Membership Register available to the Commission not later than 30 days before the date fixed for the primaries, congresses and conventions of the political parties.
Said he: “Let me also seize this opportunity to remind political parties that by the provision of Section 77 of the Electoral Act, each party is required to maintain a membership register in hard and soft copy and to make such register available to the Commission not later than 30 days before the date fixed for primaries, congresses and conventions.
“So far, only one political party has complied by submitting its Membership Register to the Commission. It is a mandatory requirement of the law and all parties are required to comply”.
He warned that, “doing otherwise is like going into an election without the Register of Voters.
“There can be no credible primary or general election without a credible Register of Voters,” he stresses.
Prof. Yakubu at the meeting told the RECs to thoroughly study the new Electoral Act, arguing that a credible election is anchored on the law.
Said he: “This is our first meeting since the coming into force of the Electoral Act.
“I urge you to thoroughly study the new law. A credible election is anchored on the law”.
“As you are aware, the Electoral Act, together with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and our Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, constitute the electoral legal framework for elections.
“As election managers, it is incumbent upon us to familiarise ourselves with the legal framework.
“As you are all aware, the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election a day after the Electoral Act 2022 was signed into law.
“The next activity under the Timetable is the conduct of party primaries by political parties. So far, 14 parties have submitted their notices and schedule of primaries to the Commission.
“As required by law, the Commission shall monitor the primaries in the constituencies where the parties intend to field candidates.
“This means that the State offices will be heavily involved in the exercise. I urge you to exercise our monitoring responsibility with absolute neutrality.
“There are sanctions for violation of the law and you should know this and warn our staff accordingly”.
Those who also attended the meeting were INEC National Commissioners (NCs), the RECs, Secretary of the Commission, and Directors.
