ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Resident Electoral Commissioner Pastor Monday Udoh-Tom, has urge political parties to desist from marginalization of members and irregular change of venue for party primaries, which could lead to disruption of public order and litigation.
He gave the advice in Asaba, the state capital, during a Consultative Meeting with Political Parties and Heads of Security Agencies.
Pastor Udoh-Tom also advised the political parties against non-adherence to the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC guidelines during the conduct of party primaries.
“I want to advise all political parties to carry their members along.”
“You should not give us one venue and go to another place to do the congress.”
“You should not give us one time and go by 12 midnight to do the congress and expect INEC to accept your report. If INEC does not monitor what you do, we will write our own report, we will not accept what you will bring to us.”
“What happened in Zamfara, why was their winning overturned for another political party?”
It is because of congress and primaries. If the foundation is faulty, the other ones are faulty.”
Mr. Monday Udoh-Tom also spoke on the expansion of the registration and Permanent Voters Card distribution centers, to address some of the challenges people face in the collection of PVC’s.
“We had twenty six, we move it to seventy three and we are also going round. The one that was done from June to December are available.”
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ari, represented by Assistant Commissioner Sahad Ibrahim, said the force had initiated strategies to ensuring the peaceful and orderly conduct of party primaries.”
“Those escorts’ armed men to political leaders and aspirants would not be allowed into those venues of those elections. And any other person that hire any group of persons to foment trouble will equally not be secured in the course of performing our responsibility.”
Participants at the summit include heads of security agencies, political parties and representative of the Inter-Party Advisory Council IPAC, were updated on the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and its implication for the conduct of the 2023 general election.
