Edo, Ondo gov poll: INEC demands membership register from parties adopting direct primaries

Edo, Ondo gov poll: INEC demands membership register from parties adopting direct primaries

- INEC has asked APC, PDP and other parties participating in the forthcoming governorship election in Edo and Ondo states for their membership register ahead of their primaries

- Professor Yakubu, INEC's chair, said parties adopting the direct mode should submit their membership register while those adopting the indirect mode should submit list if delegates

- The INEC's chief said this will allow the electoral commission to effectively monitor the party primaries

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As the Edo and Ondo governorship elections approach, the Independent National Electoral Commission has directed participating political to submit appropriate documents.

In a virtual meeting with the political party leaders, INEC's national chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, asked parties planning to the direct mode of primary elections to submit their membership register to the commission, The Nation reports.

He also asked the parties planning to adopt the indirect primary mode to submit to the INEC the list of delegates who will be participating in the elections.

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Professor Yakubu said this will allow the electoral commission to effectively monitor the party primaries.

His words: “I wish to appeal to political parties that opt for direct primaries to avail us with the register of members to be used for the election from ward to local government and state levels for the effective discharge of our monitoring responsibilities under the law.

“Those that opt for indirect primaries should similarly make available to the commission the list of delegates for the election. Doing otherwise will amount to going into an election without the voters’ register.

"The commission makes available to each political party the complete register of voters before every major election. We expect political parties to reciprocate for their primaries”.

The INEC chief also called on the political parties to ensure rancour-free primaries, noting that party primaries form the foundation for the secondary election conducted by the commission.

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Legit.ng earlier reported that the APC had announced the timetable for its primaries ahead of the governorship poll in Ondo and Edo states.

The ruling party fixed Monday, June 22 and Monday, July 20 for its governorship primary elections in Edo and Ondo states respectively.

The announcement trailed the decision by the electoral umpire to stick with its initial plan amid coronavirus crisis.

Also, the PDP has announced the timetable for its primary election ahead of Edo and Ondo election.

In a statement by the main opposition party on its Twitter page on Wednesday, May 20, PDP fixed Tuesday, June 23, for Edo primary election.

The party also fixed Wednesday, July 22 and Thursday, July 23, for Ondo gubernatorial primary.

Meanwhile, in another related development, Legit.ng reported that some APC governors met the party's national leader Bola Tinubu on Sunday, May 31, over the forthcoming governorship election in Edo and Ondo states.

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The governors want their colleagues to be given the right of first refusal in the elections.

Tinubu, however, told the governors to go and participate in the primaries; a development which has generated heated reactions on social media.

Jubril of Sudan said on Twitter: "Govs Bagudu, Ganduje, Akeredolu, Sanwo-Olu, others meet in Lagos

"Obaseki’s second term bid top on agenda.

"Nothing good comes out of the meeting."

In his own reaction, @Solomonchuks110 said: "Obaseki claims he is fighting Godfatherism, but he mobilised other governors to beg Tinubu.

"Where are those saying Edo is not Lagos. He don dey clear for una eyes abi? "Oga Obaseki go and prepare for direct primaries or better still decamp to PDP."

Also, @IU_Wakili commented: "Wait is it the same Obaseki of EDO that was saying rubbish that packed 7 governors to and see Tinubu? I thought he said EDO is not LAGOS. "JAGABAN!! Capacity full ground"

Gloria Adagbon tweeted: "No right of first refusal, go and prepare for the primaries, APC National Leader, Chief Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Governor Obaseki.

"ME: And the pin dropped and there was silence. The thing enter wella!"

"I will never understand the reason behind 7 Governors leaving their States to go beg nd seek Tinubu's decision for another State in another region. Lol

"Apart from idleness, why are these characters placing an individual interest over millions," @SodiqTade commented

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Source: Legit.ng

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