As the deadline for nomination of governorship and state assembly candidates for the 2022 general election terminates on Friday July 15, two political parties, the African Action Congress, AAC, and New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, are yet to upload a single nomination to the portal set up by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
This was contained in a statement by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Wednesday.
The statement reminded all political parties that they have three days left to upload their list of candidates to the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal, ICNP.
INEC disclosed in the statement that so far, it has processed 6,995 nomination forms, EC9, uploaded by 16 out of 18 political parties for the constituencies where they intend to sponsor candidates.
“As provided for in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election released by the Commission on 26th February 2022, all political parties that conducted valid primaries are required to nominate their candidates for Governorship, Deputy Governorship and State Assembly elections via the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP) from 1st – 15th July 2022.
“So far, the Commission has processed 6,995 nomination forms (EC9) uploaded by 16 out of 18 political parties for the constituencies where they intend to sponsor candidates. However, two political parties, the African Action Congress (AAC) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), are yet to upload a single nomination to the portal.
“The Commission hereby reminds all political parties that they have three days left to upload their list of candidates to the ICNP. The deadline is Friday 15th July 2022. The portal will automatically shut down at 6.00pm on that date,” the statement read.
The commission also noted that it has continuously responded to requests for the issuance of Certified True Copies, CTCs, of documents mainly arising from the conduct of party congresses, primaries and nomination of candidates, adding that the number of requests processed has now risen to 1,662,987 pages of documents.
It however expressed sadness that in spite of its effort, 147 out of 476 requests processed as at today involving 5,646 pages are yet to be collected by applicants.
The commission also appealed to prospective litigants to come forward and collect the certifed copies of the documents.