Olayemi Esan
The Independent National Electoral Commission has broken its silence about the controversial primary election of the All Progressives Congress, APC, held in Anambra State.
INEC spokesperson, Festus Okoye, said the Commission received a damning report on the APC primary from its officials.
Okoye, however, said top officials of the electoral body were yet to meet to consider the document and make a decision.
“The Commission has not taken a decision on the issue. A political party may conduct primaries and refuse to upload the list and personal particulars of its candidates,” he said.
Okoye spoke just as INEC ends the uploading of the list and personal particulars of nominated candidates today.
The governorship election in Anambra State has been fixed for 6 November.
The INEC spokesperson added that the 18 registered parties interested in contesting the November 6 governorship election gave the commission the statutory 21 days notice of their intention to conduct primaries, adding that its officials monitored the primaries of the parties that gave the required notice and issued reports.
He said, “ If a party organised primaries in accordance with the law, the Commission will report what it observed. If the organisation and conduct fell short of the law and party guidelines the Commission will report.
All the parties complied with the June 10-July 1, 2021 timetable for the conduct of primaries.