2023: INEC gives parties June 17 deadline to file names of candidates, running mates

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has directed political parties to file in names of their Presidential candidates and running mates within Friday, June 17, 2022.

The electoral umpire equally gives Friday 15 July 2022 as a deadline for political parties to submit names of Gubernatorial candidates and their running mates.

The commission also set up telephone lines to serve as Help Desks for the parties in case they need any kind of assistance from the Commission.

According to INEC, the deadlines for political parties to send their nominations before the portal will be shut down are Friday 17 June 2022 for Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives elections, while Friday 15 July 2022 for Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

This was disclosed on its Twitter page on Wednesday stating, “All nominations must be uploaded on/before the deadlines.”

The commission further stated: “The portal will automatically shut down at 6.00 pm (1800hrs) on Friday 17th June 2022 for national elections and 6.00 pm (1800hrs) on Friday 15th July 2022 for State elections.

INEC in the statement, added, “the idea was established to remove physical meetings that might occur among party officials and Commission staff.

“With this innovation, the Commission has eliminated the physical interface between party officials and INEC staff to submit the list of candidates for the 2023 General Election.”

“For emphasis, the Commission wishes to remind Political Parties that only the names of candidates that emerged from democratic primaries as provided by Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 shall be submitted to the Commission.

“Similarly, the list of all Presidential and Governorship candidates must be accompanied by the names of their running mates (i.e. Vice Presidential and Deputy Governorship candidates) without which the nomination is invalid,” INEC added.