The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it did not adjust the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the 2023 general election by a few days under any form of pressure from the political parties.

INEC had last week extended the deadline for the conduct of party primaries by six days.

The commission, while speaking on the reactions that trailed the extension, said it did not act unilaterally or under any form of pressure or duress in the 6-day period granted to the 18 registered political parties.

The INEC National Electoral Commissioner for information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, made this known while speaking to newsmen on Monday.

Okoye, who reiterated the INWC’s commitment to conducting free and fair election in 2023, said the commission would not tamper with the critical timelines in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the forthcoming general election.

He, however, expressed displeasure at the cancellation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in Ebonyi State, saying some of the parties that criticised the commission for extending the deadline for the primary election are now taking advantage of and seizing the opportunity of the 6-day period.

Okoye said: “The Commission did not act unilaterally or under any form of pressure or duress in the 6-day grace period granted to the 18 registered political parties.

“It is on record that on May 10, 2022, the Commission held a consultative meeting with the leaders of all the 18 registered Political Parties.

“At the meeting, the political parties requested for an adjustment of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the 2023 general election.

“They requested for 60 days and the commission turned it down. Thereafter, the political parties requested for a shift of 37 days and the commission turned it down.

“At the consultative meeting, where the parties made the request, some of them accused the commission of endangering democracy by refusing to alter the Timetable and Schedule of Activities. They insisted that they may not have candidates in so many of the constituencies unless they are given a grace period.

READ ALSO: INEC grants parties 6-day extension to conclude primaries

“Of course, the period for the primaries had started as at the time the political parties unanimously made the request.

“By the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the period for the primaries commenced on the 4th of April 2022 and to end on the 3rd of June 2022. None of the political parties accused the commission of shifting the goal post at the middle of the game.

“On the 12th of May 2022, the political parties wrote to the commission once again requesting for an adjustment of the timelines and the commission turned down their request. None of the political parties accused IPAC of acting unilaterally or not representing them.

“On the 26th of May 2022, the political parties under the auspices of the Inter Party Advisory Council, wrote to the Commission and requested for a meeting to hold on the 27th day of May 2022. IPAC invited their members to the meeting. 15 of the registered political parties attended the meeting.

“At the meeting of the 27th May 2022, they informed the commission that they used their own network to invite all the registered political parties. They once again requested for an adjustment of the timelines on grounds that they have problems.

“They pleaded and canvassed that the Electoral Act 2022 was being operated for the first time and that most of them have made mistakes in the conduct of their primaries. They pleaded with the Commission to show some magnanimity to enable them have crisis-free primaries and avoid avoidable litigation,” the INEC national commissioner told ThisDay.

Okoye further stated that instead of 37 to 60 days, the political parties pleaded for only six days between June 3 and the commencement of the upload of nomination forms on the commission’s web portal on June 10, 2022.

The Star