The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned political parties participating in the forthcoming Edo and Ondo polls, to respect laid-down laws and regulations set by the Presidential Task Force, NCDC and the states on COVID-19, during the selection and nomination of candidates.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, gave the warning during a second virtual meeting of the inter-agency consultative committee on election security, on Wednesday.
Professor Yakubu said with regard to the Edo election, all political parties interested in fielding candidates must conclude their primaries for the nomination of candidates in the next 10 days.
He said political parties that fail to submit the names and other details of the candidates that emerge from their primaries using the dedicated portal created by the Commission, on or before 6:00 pm on Monday 29th June 2020, will not be listed to participate in the September 19, election.
Yakubu added that it is important to draw the attention of political parties to the four mandatory requirements for eligibility of candidates for governorship elections, as enshrined in section 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, which are that the candidate must be a Nigerian citizen by birth; must have attained the age of 35 years; must be a member of, and sponsored by a political party, and must be educated up to at least school certificate level or equivalent.
Editor: Ifeanyi Mark
