APC, PDP, others seek poll timetable extension, INEC refuses
The All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, and 16 other political parties on Tuesday asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to alter the timetable for the 2023 general election.
The parties made the demand at a meeting they held with INEC chairman Professor Yakub Mahmood. The parties came to make the request under the auspices of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
Those at the meeting are In attendance at the meeting were the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu; APC National Secretary Senator Iyiola Omisore; PDP National Chairman, Professor Iyorcha Ayu; PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chairman Victor Oye, among other political party leaders.
IPAC National Chairman, Yabagi Yusuf Sani, who read the position of the position of the parties at the second quarterly meeting with INEC , said: “In making the request for extension in the INEC stipulated timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections, we in the Inter-Party Advisory Council, are not unmindful of the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act with respect to timelines in the electoral process.
“We are however, of the considered view that our request will not, in any way, tantamount to an infringement or, a breach of any extant laws and provisions. This is because, the alterations that we are demanding, will not affect the statutory dates already fixed for the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
“We should therefore, be seen as a body of responsible and patriotic interest bloc with a very high sense of responsibility and commitment to the success of every crucial stage and aspects in the electoral chain”.
However, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu rejected the request. Mahmood said there would be no review of the timeline for the party primaries.
He told the political parties that the period fixed for the conduct of primaries by political parties commenced on 4th April 2022 and would end on 3rd June 2022.
Yakubu also said that all 18 political parties have submitted the schedules of their primaries to the Commission “and some have commenced the process of choosing their candidates by conducting Ward and Local Government congresses”.
“Therefore, the Commission will not review the timelines. Working together, we should ensure fidelity to the timelines in conducting transparent and democratic primaries for the purpose of electing candidates for the 1,491 constituencies for which elections will be held on 25th February and 11th March 2023.”
