The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has banned the ruling APC in Zamfara state from fielding candidates for governorship, state and federal legislative elections in the 2019 elections.
This is because the party failed to meet the October 7 deadline for conducting primaries to elect candidates for the elections.
In a letter written to the ruling party and signed by the Commission’s acting scribe, Okechukwu Ndeche, INEC said its decision was based on the provisions of Sections 87 and 31 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
The memo titled, ‘Failure to Conduct Party Primaries in Zamfara state within the stipulated timeframe”, which was obtained by Vanguard, reads:
“Please refer to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 General Elections released by the Commission on 9th January, 2018. You would note from the Timetable that the conduct of Party Primaries is scheduled to take place between 18th August and 7th October 2018.
“Kindly also refer to the last schedule communicated by your party to the Commission on the dates of party primaries nationwide, including Zamfara vide your letter Ref. APC/NHDQ/lNEC/19/18/51 dated 3rd October 2018. However, report received from pur office in Zamfara state shows that no primaries were conducted by your party in the state, notwithstanding that our officials were fully mobilized and deployed.
“Please accept the assurances of the Commission’s highest regards”.
