2023: 3 weeks to deadline, no party has done primaries – INEC unhappy

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is unhappy with all 18 political parties as none has conducted its primary election even with just three weeks to the deadline.

INEC has now vowed not to extend the June 3, 2022 deadline for primaries.

A document obtained by PUNCH from INEC on Monday showed that the Accord Party scheduled its primaries for June 2 while the Action Alliance fixed its own for June 3.The African Action Congress is also expected to hold its own on June 3 while the African Democratic Congress and the Action Democratic Party will hold theirs on June 1 and May 30 respectively.

The All Progressives Congress will complete its presidential primary on June 1; the All Progressives Grand Alliance will conduct its primary on June 1 while the Allied Peoples Movement will conduct its primary on May 30.

The Action People’s Party slated its primary for May 27, the Boot Party will conduct its own on June 3, Labour Party on June 3 and the New Nigeria People’s Party on June 1 and 2.

The National Rescue Movement fixed its Presidential primary for June 1 and 2, the Peoples Democratic Party will hold its own on May 29, the Peoples Redemption Party will conduct its primary on May 28, and the Young Progressives Party will hold its own on June 1 while Zenith Labour Party will hold its primary on June 1.

The PUNCH learnt that the Social Democratic Party, which had fixed its primary for May 14,  failed to do so.