The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, revealed that the commission only oversaw the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary held at Lushville Hotel and Suites.
During a press briefing in Benin City, Dr. Onuoha emphasized that the commission was only responsible for monitoring the APC primary at the aforementioned venue. This comes in the wake of a controversial incident wherein political thugs disrupted the primary election, causing chaos and assaulting journalists and electoral officers.
Dr. Onuoha clarified that INEC’s involvement in monitoring party primaries is contingent upon formal notification from the national body of the respective political party. In this case, the APC duly informed the INEC hierarchy, prompting the commission’s attendance at the primary held at Lushville Hotel and Suites.
Responding to the Supreme Court’s decision on the monitoring of party primaries, Dr. Onuoha asserted that any party primary not formally communicated to INEC by the national headquarters will not be monitored by the commission.
In conclusion, Dr. Onuoha’s statement sheds light on the specific procedural requirements for INEC’s involvement in overseeing party primaries, emphasizing the significance of official communication from the political parties to the national chairman of the INEC.
