The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it would not extend the deadline for submission of list of candidates’ names by political parties for next year’s general elections.
Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), yesterday in Abuja, that the Commission had scheduled the submission of candidates’ names for the Presidential and National Assembly elections between October 10 and 18, and Governorship and State Assemblies election for November 2, and there is no extension.
“The Commission is following its timetable and schedule of activities for 2019 general elections. No extension of deadline for submission.”
Oyekanmi, who was unable to give the precise number of political parties that met the deadline as at the time of filing this report, said: “Over 80 political parties made it, but I am still waiting for the precise number.”
At Aso Hall of the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, venue of the submission, some officers of political parties who got tallies on Wednesday night were still going through the submission process.
A staff of the Commission, who pleaded anonymity, said issuance of tally to political parties stopped Thursday night, but due to the last-minute rush by political parties, INEC staff, security officers and other personnel on duty at the venue were unable to go home.
The staff added that they had recorded about 70 out of over 80 political parties that had so far submitted their candidates’ lists, including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
As at 4:00pm yesterday, some political parties’ representatives were seen in front of the hall waiting for their turn to submit their forms.
