Anambra 2021: APGA primary fell short of provisions of Electoral Act, INEC insists

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to the All Progressives Grand Alliance preparation for the conduct of its primary to produce its standard-bearer expected to hold today.

INEC in a statement signed by Barrister Festus Okoye admitted that the commission was notified by the political party but insisted that its processes and preparation fell short of certain provisions of the Electoral Act.

Okoye was reacting to a statement attributed to Chairman of APGA Caretaker Committee in Imo State, Honourable John Iwuala, who said it was not the business of the electoral body on how a political party arrived at its list of delegates for its primary.

Okoye in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja said Honourable Iwuala’s was ignorant of Section 85 of the Electoral Act which he noted, made it mandatory for political parties to notify INEC of the date of its congress where its ad-hoc delegates would be elected.

Okoye further argued that the outcome of Wednesday primary being conducted by APGA could be subject to litigations by aggrieved aspirants since it fell short of provisions of the Electoral Act.

The statement read in part: “The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), one of the registered political parties in Nigeria indicated its intention to nominate and sponsor candidates for the November 6, 2021 Governorship election in Anambra State. By section 85 of the Electoral Act 2010(as amended) every registered political party is legally obligated to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days’ statutory notice of its intention to organize any convention, congress, conference or meeting for the purpose of nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified in the Electoral Act.

“In the statutory notice given to the Commission, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) proposed June 23, 2021, for the conduct of its State Congress for the purposes of nominating its candidate for the Anambra State Governorship Election holding on November 6, 2021.

“Based on its satisfaction of the 21day statutory requirement for the holding of its congress, the Commission has concluded arrangements to monitor the said congress and will monitor the congress-taking place on the 23rd June 2021.

“However, on the 16th of June 2021, the Party forwarded to the Commission the list of delegates for its congress for the purpose of nominating its candidate for the said election.

“On the 18th June 2021, the Secretary to the Commission responded to the said letter and notified the party that it did not notify the Commission of the date of the congress where the ad-hoc delegates were elected as required by Section 85 of the Electoral Act.

“It will be recalled that prior to the letter of the 18th June 2021, the Commission on the 3rd June 2021 drew the attention of all the political parties of the imperative of complying with all constitutional and legal requirements for the conduct of party primaries as the Commission is obligated to keep records of the activities of all registered political parties.

“Political parties must remain within the confines of the law and legality in the conduct of their primaries and avoid issues and challenges that may complicate the due conduct of elections.

“However, aspirants, candidates and parties that are aggrieved by the actions, decisions or activities of the Commission, or who complain that any of the provisions of the Electoral Act or any Act of the National Assembly regulating the conduct of primaries of political parties and the provisions of the guidelines of a political party for the conduct of party primaries has not been complied with can approach the courts for redress.

“Political parties must conduct due diligence on the list and personal particulars of their candidates and ensure that party members remain the sole determinants of those that are nominated. Violating the law and the guidelines for the conduct of party primaries will only set the stage for acrimonious primaries and avoidable judicial intervention.”

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Anambra 2021: APGA primary fell short of provisions of Electoral Act, INEC insists