The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Thursday, said 16 political parties would be fielding candidates in the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
He identified the parties as Accord Party, Action Alliance, African Democratic Congress, All Progressives Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, and the Allied Peoples Movement.
Others are Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, National Rescue Movement, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Redemption Party, Social Democratic Party, Young Progressives Party, and Zenith Labour Party.
He advised them to ensure that they conducted rancour-free primaries, compliant with Sections 84(4) and 5(b) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Olumekun said, “Sixteen political parties have notified the commission of their intention to participate in the election as well as their preferred modes and dates of primaries.
Therefore, primaries must take place within the state in line with Sections 84(4) and 5(b) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“Parties to avoid unnecessary postponement, arbitrary changes of venues of their primaries, wholesale change of delegates’ list or the submission of names that did not emerge from valid primaries as candidates for the election.
“They should also avoid rancorous primaries that lead to the breakdown of law and order often as a result of non-adherence to the provision of their constitutions and guidelines.
“These are some of the issues that lead to a large number of pre-election litigation.”
INEC had in September 2023 released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Edo State off-cycle governorship election.
According to the timetable, political parties are to conduct their primaries between February 1 and, 2024.
By virtue of Section 82 of the Electoral Act 2022, political parties are required to give INEC at least 21 days’ notice ahead of the day fixed for the conduct of their primaries.
