Fourteen out of 18 political parties have nominated 472 candidates to vie for 68 elective positions in the February 12, 2022 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.
According to the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, at a meeting with political party leaders Thursday in Abuja, a total of 14 parties have nominated 110 candidates for chairmanship/deputy chairmanship positions and 362 candidates for councillorship in the FCT area council elections.
At the meeting to deliberate the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) to begin June 28, the INEC chairman told the party leaders, “In the case of the FCT Area Council elections, political parties have concluded their primaries for the 68 constituencies made up of 6 Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councillors.
“A total of 14 out of 18 political parties have nominated 110 candidates for Chairmanship/Deputy Chairmanship positions and 362 candidates for Councillorship. Altogether, 14 political parties have nominated 472 candidates to vie for 68 elective positions in the FCT.”
Yakubu urged political parties to submit to the commission their election expenses reports within six months and election contribution report within three months after the declarations of result of an election, reminding them of the consequences of their failure to comply in earnest as enshrined in the Electoral Act, as they prepare for forthcoming elections.
He stated that the commission had reminded political parties of these obligations in respect of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections held last year, saying only seven out of 14 political parties had responded in the case of Edo state and 8 out of 17 for Ondo state.
He expressed sadness that party candidates for elections were now being determined through litigation long after elections have been concluded and winners declared by INEC and reminded them of the imperative to comply with the provisions of the law as well as regulations governing the conduct of party primaries and nomination of candidates.
