Ahead of the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged all political parties to conduct transparent primaries in line with the constitution of their parties.

The electoral umpire warned that any political party that fails to conduct democratic primaries cannot be expected to submit the names of candidates for elections.

Speaking while meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja on Tuesday, INEC chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, tasked the parties on free, fair, transparent and credible primary elections such that they expect from INEC during elections.

“The Commission wishes to remind political parties that in choosing their candidates for these elections, they must abide by the provisions of the law, INEC’s regulations and guidelines as well as their Constitutions and guidelines. “INEC will monitor the primaries as required by law. Political parties must therefore hold themselves to the same high standard of free, fair, transparent and credible elections that they expect from INEC during general election.

“Any political party that fails to conduct democratic primaries within the timeframe provided in the Commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities cannot be expected to submit the names of candidates to INEC for elections.”

On the off-season elections, Yakubu said: “You may recall that in June this year, the Commission released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Ekiti Governorship election holding on 18th June 2022 and the Osun Governorship election scheduled for 16th July 2022. A major activity for the two Governorship elections is the conduct of primaries by political parties for the nomination of candidates for the election.

“For Ekiti State, the exercise begins in the next 2 weeks on 4th January 2022 and ends on 29th January 2022. In the case of Osun State, party primaries begin on 16th February 2022 and ends on 12th March 2022.

“In addition, there are eight pending bye-elections involving three Federal Constituencies (Jos North/Bassa in Plateau State, Akure North/Akure South in Ondo State and Ogoja/Yala in Cross River State) and five State constituencies (Shinkafi in Zamfara State, Ekiti East I in Ekiti State, Akpabuyo in Cross River State, Pankshin South in Plateau State and Giwa West in Kaduna State).”