By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Apparently to show the Commission’s seriousness to enforce the Electoral Guidelines, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) warned one of the 18 registered political parties, Boot Party (BP) not to waste its precious time to file anybody’s name as its governorship candidate for the June 18, 2022 Ekiti state Governorship Election.
INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja that Boot Party will not sponsor any candidate for the Ekiti Governorship Election because it has broken the Electoral Law by refusing to hold its primary election at any venue known to, and monitored by. the Commission.
Professor Yakubu’s revelation was contained in his remarks at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting held on Tuesday, February 1, 2022
at the Commission’s Conference Hall in Maitama, Abuja.
The INEC boss who was briefing the security agencies on the Commission’s preparations for this month’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election and other upcoming elections in the country stated that the erring BP will not be allowed to field governorship candidate in Ekiti state Governorship Election.
Said he: “In addition to the FCT Area Council election, the Commission is also preparing for six bye-elections on 26th February 2022, followed by the Ekiti and Osun Governorship elections on 18th June and 16th July 2022 respectively”.
“In the case of the Ekiti State Governorship election, the period earmarked in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for party primaries ended three days ago on 29th January 2022”.
” All 18 political parties served notices for their party primaries to elect their candidates for the election and invited the Commission to monitor them. One party adopted the direct method for electing its candidate while 16 parties opted for the indirect method”.
“However, from on our field report, the Boot Party (BP) did not hold its primary election at any venue known to, and monitored by, the Commission.
“Consequently, we do not expect the party to nominate a candidate for the Ekiti State Governorship election”.
“On this note, let me once again warn political parties to strictly adhere to the Commission’s timelines for all activities, including the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates”.
“These timelines are firm and fixed. No deviation or violation will be allowed”.
