By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Barely few weeks to the commencement of conduct of political parties primary elections nationwide, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that only one out of 18 registered political parties in Nigeria has Membership Register.
This is even as the Commission has warned that it is a mandatory requirement of the law that all political parties 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.
This was contained in the remarks of INEC Chairman Professor, 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 to political parties to 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 2022, 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”.
Yakubu however disclosed that: “so far, only one political party has complied by submitting its Membership Register to the Commission”, pointing out that “it is a mandatory requirement of the law and all parties are required to comply”.
The INEC Chairman 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”.
Meanwhile, Yakubu has at the meeting told 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 2022. 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”.
Speaking further, the INEC Chairman said: “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 are INEC National Commissioners (NCs), the Secretary to the Commission, Directors and members of the INEC Press Corps.
