2019: INEC raises alarm, Says APC, PDP, others yet to submit list of candidates

THE  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said that none of the 89 political parties that notified the Commission of their intention to conduct their primaries has submitted the list of its sponsored candidates to the Commission for the 2019 general elections as on Thursday.

The Commission in a statement signed and issued by a member of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), National Commissioner, Mohammed Haruna, revealed that  all the 89 parties were yet to submit the list of their sponsored candidates contained in CF 002 and personal particulars contained in Form 001 to the centre designated by the Commission for the collection.

The statement further restated its stance that the deadline for the submission of Forms CF001 and CF002 for the 2019 general elections remain October 18 2018, while the deadline for submitting same for the Governorship and State Assemblies is 2nd November 2018.

Meanwhile, it equally announced a major shakeup in the Commission.

According to the statement, Mrs Amina Zakari, erstwhile head of Electoral Operations and Logistic Committee have been redeployed to the Health and Welfare Committee.

Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu is now to superintend over the Commission Logistic Committee.

 Checks revealed that the Commission decisive step to move Mrs Zakari to a less sensitive position was informed by a public outcry by opposition political parties which believed that  Amina Zakari, a relation of President Muhammadu Buhari, might compromise her office to favour the incumbent president who is seeking a fresh mandate.

Prince Solomon Soyebi was moved from the Information Committee to join the Board of the Electoral Institute.

Barrister Festus Okoye was announced as new helmsman of the Information and Voters’ Education Committee.