INEC rejects parties request for adjustment of polls timetable – Newstrends
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INEC rejects parties request for adjustment of polls timetable

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INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday turned down a request by the 18 political parties to alter the timetable for the 2023 general elections.

The commission said acceding to the request would affect its “other activities” and create “unnecessary tension” that could negatively affect the general election scheduled to commence February 25, next year.

“The commission will not review the timelines,” INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said during a meeting with Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), the umbrella body of the registered parties in Abuja.

The meeting was attended by All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu and National Secretary, Iyiola Omisore; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) National Chairman Victor Oye and IPAC Chairman Yabagi Sani.

In justifying its call for an alteration to the timetable, IPAC said it discovered that the schedule of activities for the general election was  based on “certain circumstances and developments that have hampered timely and strict compliance with the timelines.”

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The council specifically urged that the deadline for primaries be extended by 37 days from June 3.

It argued that an adjustment to the timetable would not significantly affect the conduct of the general election.

IPAC Chairman Sani said: “It is within the framework of the enduring bond between the INEC and IPAC in service to the country, that all the 18 registered political parties on the platform of IPAC are joint, without exception, requesting the INEC to consider a slight adjustment to the recently announced timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general elections.

“In summary, the general assembly of IPAC …requests for an extension by 37 days to the deadline of the time frame for the conduct of party primaries and resolution of conflicts arising from the primaries:

“By implication, the IPAC leadership is appealing to the INEC to extend the deadline for the conduct of party primaries and resolution of ensuing conflicts from the present INEC given date of June 3, 2022 to 4th August 2022.

“Some of the issues considered by the IPAC general assembly which necessitated the call for extension in the timeframe of the present INEC timetable and schedule of activities are based on certain circumstances and developments that have hampered timely and strict compliance by the political parties to the timetable.

“Some of the constraining developments which, we believe were not considered and therefore, not factored in by NEC while drawing up its schedule of activities include the following; the Christian Lenten season and the Muslim fasting in the month of Ramadan respectively followed by the celebrations of Easter and Eid El Fitr, (Sallah), in which the vast majority of party members were involved.

“It is also, noteworthy that, the scenario was the first time that the two major events in the Christian and Muslim calendars would be occurring around the period of general elections.”

Sani also cited the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states within the timeline of the INEC as “additional distractions and constraints that obviously affect the political parties.”.

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He added that “IPAC general assembly regards the time allotted by INEC for the conduct of primaries as too short in view of the efforts required by the parties for effective and scrupulous screening and selection of qualified and quality flag bearers.”

The IPAC boss said that the parties were “ not unmindful of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 with respect to timelines in the electoral process” in making the request for an adjustment.

But the INEC chairman reminded the parties that the period earmarked for the conduct of their primaries commenced April 4, 2022, and would end June 3.

“Any review to extend the timeline for one activity will affect other activities and put unnecessary pressure on political parties and the commission,” Yakubu said.

He however acknowledged the fact that the parties had forwarded to INEC, the schedules for their primaries.

His words: “This meeting is the first since the Electoral Act 2022 came into force on February 25 2022. It is also our first meeting since the commission released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2023 general election over two months ago.

“Already, all 18 political parties have forwarded the schedules of their primaries to the Commission, and some have commenced the process of choosing their candidates by conducting ward and local government congresses.

“The period earmarked for the conduct of primaries by political parties commenced on April 4, 2022, and will end 24 days from today(yesterday.).

“Twice in the last two weeks, the commission had cause to remind political parties of the necessity for strict compliance with the timelines for party primaries. I hereby reiterate the position of the commission that there will be no review of the timelines.

“There are so many inter-related activities that are associated with the timelines which must be carried out. Any review to extend the timeline for one activity.will ultimately result in more complications than what the extension seeks to achieve.

“Therefore, the commission will not review the timelines. Working together, we should ensure fidelity to the timelines in conducting transparent and democratic primaries for the purpose of electing candidates for the 1,491 constituencies for which elections will be held on 25th February and 11th March 2023.

“In the spirit of working together to comply with the requirements of the law, the commission has prepared a document to guide political parties in the conduct of primaries and nomination of candidates for election, including a checklist of the documentation required for a successful nomination..

“Similarly, the commission has prepared a calendar of party primaries for presidential, governorship, national and state assembly seats based on the proposals submitted by political parties as at May 6, 2022.”

Yakubu charged the parties to be committed to “promoting inclusivity in the electoral process” by giving more opportunities to women, youths and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

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PDP will come out stronger, Saraki reacts to Okowa, Delta gov defection

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PDP will come out stronger, Saraki reacts to Okowa, Delta gov defection

Former Senate President Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has dismissed recent high-profile defections from the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claiming there is no need for concern and that the party is entering a period of rebirth and reconstruction.

In a statement on his X, Saraki said, “Following the development in the Delta State Chapter of our party, I have been inundated with phone calls from leaders and members of our party as well as various youths who have been active in promoting democracy and good governance in our country.”

Speaking directly on the defection of top party leaders, he said, “My view is that those who want to leave the PDP should leave now and let the rest of us who want to stay concentrate on rebuilding the party and refocusing it to play the role of a viable opposition that will provide a better alternative for the good people of Nigeria.”

Saraki highlighted the need for a robust opposition in Nigeria’s democratic space, warning against the danger of one-party dominance.

“To sustain democracy, there must be viable choices for people at every point. Also, there must be a viable opposition to keep people’s hope alive and create credible alternatives to keep the government on its toes.”

“A one-party state, as being disingenuously designed by some people, will not augur well for a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious, and highly diversified society like ours. It is even more dangerous when we eliminate alternatives and make people hopeless.”

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“It is in the interest of Nigeria and the survival of our democracy for the opposition to be vibrant and strong enough with the capacity to replace the ruling party at any point.”

The PDP chieftain described the current situation as a moment of clarity for the party, saying, “Those who want to leave the party should go and let those of us remaining have a clear view of who we are talking to and where their political loyalty lies.”

“All we need is for those who want to stay back in PDP to show commitment, and we can all work to rebuild the party.”

Speaking on recent developments, he said, “This development has vindicated the stance of people like me who have decided to remain silent and watch events unfold. I have seen that there was no sincerity with supposed leaders of the opposition. One was not sure of the next person one was talking to.”

Saraki called for perspective and patience, saying, “The sustenance of democracy is not a sprint. Rather, it is a marathon. It is not a knockout football match series. It is a league. 24 hours is a long time in politics, and nobody can predict how the dynamics will evolve in the coming weeks and months.”

“PDP members across the country should not be discouraged, disillusioned, disappointed, or demoralised by the development in Delta State. We should stay strong and focus on strengthening the party. It is not necessary at this point to lament why they left.”

He warned against externalising blame, “Our party members should also refrain from blaming our woes on the ruling party. That would be a lazy approach. They are playing politics to win elections. It is our responsibility as party members to ignore their antics and seize the moment and momentum to make our party stronger and better.”

Commenting on the defection of Delta’s governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his deputy, Saraki noted, “Yes, it is unbecoming and shocking for the running mate to the standard bearer of a leading party to abandon ship to join the ruling party. This is unprecedented, and nobody should try to justify such an act with talk of being put under pressure. It is simply a sign of how low we have sunk as a polity.”

Saraki also stressed the need for institutional integrity over personalities: “These developments in the polity are the reason why I have always canvassed the idea that we should emphasise building and strengthening our institutions and not individuals.”

Amid the current setbacks, Saraki remains optimistic about PDP’s chances: “With the defection of the governor of Delta State, even if the party has only ten governors in its fold, the PDP is still in a good position to win the next round of elections.”

“The PDP is better with fewer members who are loyal, sincere, determined, dedicated, and committed to its ideas, ideals, and progress than to have so many who will identify with us in the afternoon and be romancing the ruling party in the night.”

Furthermore, Saraki added that the two years remaining before the next general election is ample time to reposition the party: “That is a long time in politics. We have enough time to brace up to the challenge. There is nothing that prevents us from getting some governors from the other parties to join our ranks.”

Saraki appealed to the youth and women of the party, saying, “My appeal to our young party members is that this defection is just a mere challenge to us to further mobilise and put our house in order. Also, our women’s wing should seize the opportunity to help in the rebuilding mission.”

“The PDP will come out stronger from this development.”

“I am very sure the various leadership organs of our party will soon make public their reaction to this development and convey the necessary meetings to strategise on how to strongly and strategically respond to it. Therefore, there is no cause for alarm.”

“Our party members should not lose focus, hope, or the determination to win. We should see the current development as a challenge to rebuild and refocus the party. Tomorrow is very bright,” Saraki added.

PDP will come out stronger, Saraki reacts to Okowa, Delta gov defection

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LP: Abure, Oti flex muscle as INEC studies Supreme Court judgment

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Abure, Otti and Obi

LP: Abure, Oti flex muscle as INEC studies Supreme Court judgment

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not yet made a decision regarding the leadership of the Labour Party following a recent Supreme Court judgement.

Multiple INEC sources confirmed to on Thursday that the commission was still reviewing the court’s judgment.

“No decision has been made yet on the Supreme Court judgment of the Labour Party,” an official said anonymously for lack of authorisation to speak to the press.

Another official stated that a decision would only be taken after INEC had studied the Certified True Copy of the judgment.

“The commission needs to obtain a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgement, study it carefully to determine what the court intended, before arriving at an informed decision,” the official said.

The Supreme Court had on April 4, 2025 overturned an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal that had recognised Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.

The apex court ruled that the appeal court lacked jurisdiction over internal party matters.

However, the Supreme Court’s decision was interpreted differently, with Abure claiming that the court did not remove him from office, while the LP Caretaker Committee, led by Nenadi Usman, claimed that Abure was fired.

At the same time, Lamidi Apapa, the party’s splinter leader, emerged to claim leadership.

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On April 9, an LP team led by Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti and the party’s presidential candidate for 2023, Peter Obi, visited INEC headquarters in Abuja to clarify the leadership position.

During the visit, Otti handed a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court’s verdict to the electoral authority.

The visit intended to shed light on the party’s leadership and guarantee effective communication with INEC.

The group was met by INEC National Commissioner Sam Olumekun and other senior commission officials.

During the discussion, participants discussed ways to increase collaboration between INEC and the Labour Party, with a focus on safeguarding democratic values.

Olumekun underlined the commission’s commitment to impartiality, transparency, and the rule of law in carrying out its mandate.

Meanwhile, Abure claimed on Thursday that he is still the legitimate Labour Party National Chairman.

Abure issued a warning to Otti and Obi to heed the Supreme Court judgment.

Speaking through LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Abure said, “The position of the Labour Party after critically reviewing the Supreme Court judgment delivered on the 4th of April 2025 stated as follows: The Supreme Court, contrary to speculations, actually reaffirmed the National Convention of the Party held on the 27th of March 2024 at Nnewi.

“The reason for the non-justiciability of internal disputes of a political party is simple, and in the eyes of the law, a political party is a corporate entity with its constitution, rules, regulations, and guidelines which are binding on members who had joined freely have consented to be so bound (See Abegunde Vs. Ondo State House of Assembly & Ors. (2015) LPELR-24588 (SC).

“Consequently, we admonished Alex Otti, the Governor of Abia State, and Peter Obi, former presidential Candidate of our party in the 2023 General Election, who are the protagonists of the current division in the Party, to hear the Supreme Court loud and clear.”

He insisted that before the contentious National Convention, the Labour Party fulfilled all legal requirements in line with the LP Constitution, Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution.
According to Abure, those insisting their tenure has expired probably misinterpreted the judgment.

“The Supreme Court admonished party members to respect the Constitution of their party when it stated thus; Political Parties have put in place diverse kinds of internal dispute resolution mechanisms to handle any matter arising from disputes among members.

“Political parties and their members should, therefore, have faith in the internal dispute resolution mechanisms prescribed in their party constitution,” he stated.

LP: Abure, Oti flex muscle as INEC studies Supreme Court judgment

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Labour Party collapses into APC in Plateau

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Labour Party collapses into APC in Plateau

In a major political development in Plateau State, the Labour Party in the Northern Zone has officially merged with the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a significant shift in the region’s political dynamics. The formal defection took place this morning at the APC Secretariat, Kalwa House, Yakubu Gowon Way, Jos.

Led by former Labour Party Senatorial candidate, Barrister Gyang Zi SAN, thousands of party faithful pledged their allegiance to the APC, declaring the ruling party the most viable platform for the socio-economic transformation of their communities.

Addressing the APC State Working Committee, Barrister Zi stated that the decision was reached after extensive consultations and careful evaluation of the political landscape. He noted that the APC’s track record, particularly in implementing people-oriented policies and developmental programmes, made it the natural choice for their political aspirations.

“Our resolve to join the APC is a strategic step to build, consolidate and mobilise for the party’s continued success across all levels of governance,” Barrister Zi explained.

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Receiving the defectors, Plateau State APC Chairman, Rt. Hon. Rufus Bature, described the occasion as a historic milestone for the region. He noted that the mass defection had effectively altered the political arithmetic in the Northern Zone.

“Today marks a turning point in our political journey. The inclusion of our brothers and sisters from the Labour Party signals a broader unity and shared commitment to delivering good governance,” Rt. Hon. Bature stated.

He assured the new members that they would enjoy equal rights and privileges within the party, urging them to actively participate and take full advantage of the opportunities within the APC structure.

In a show of solidarity, goodwill messages were received from the APC leadership in the United Kingdom, and the ceremony concluded with the presentation of the APC flag to Barrister Zi, symbolising his formal induction into the party.

Joining him were all six former Labour Party flagbearers for the State House of Assembly, as well as candidates for local government chairmanship and councillorship positions—further cementing the scope and impact of the defection.

This latest development is expected to significantly influence political alignments ahead of future electoral cycles in Plateau State.

Labour Party collapses into APC in Plateau

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