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The Independent National Electoral Commisssion (INEC) has expressed worries over the conflicting court orders emerging in Edo State, stating that it is capable of marring the smooth conduct of both the primaries and the September governorship election in the state.
This was conveyed in a statement by INEC’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, after the commission’s meeting on a range of issues concerning the governorship election in the state.
According to Okoye, INEC resolved that the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes, will end on June 27, adding that the submission of the list of candidates the parties propose to present at the election and affidavits of validly nominated candidates will close at 6pm on June 29.
“In view of this and as part of its commitment to deepen the use of technology in elections, the commission will conduct a training programme for Liaison Officers nominated by all the registered Political Parties on the use of the INEC Portal for uploading nomination forms of candidates,” he said in the statement.
“The training will take place at the Conference Hall of the Commission on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th June 2020 in two batches, to allow for physical distancing in line with the COVID-19 protocols.
“Political Parties should note that the organisation and scheduling of various activities and processes leading to the conduct of elections are complex and involve extensive and careful planning and any disruption of these processes comes at a huge cost to the nation.
“The spate and tenor of pre-election litigations and the conflicting orders emanating therefrom can harm the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming elections.”
