2023: INEC’s Closure of Party Registration May Affect ‘Third Force’

2023: INEC’s Closure of Party Registration May Affect ‘Third Force’

  • The proponents of a third force agenda in Nigeria's political space may have to restrategise ahead of the 2023 polls
  • the Independent National Electoral Commission has suspended the registration of new parties until after the polls
  • The action was triggered by the new electoral act recently signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari

FCT, Abuja - A report by Premium Times newspaper indicates that the move by some politicians to launch new political parties ahead of the 2023 general elections appears to have ended as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the registration of new parties until after the polls.

INEC leaders
The Mahmood-led INEC is already working based on the 2022 Electoral Act. Photo credit: @inecnigeria
Source: UGC

New Third Force can’t participate in 2023 election

A top official of INEC quoted in the report, said the commission did not deliberately shut the registration window against the third force, but only acted as prescribed by the law.

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The source said:

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“A new party cannot join as you know that the new law speaks in respect to that.”

Allow eligible prison inmates to vote during elections, Senate urges INEC

In a related development, the Senate has urged INEC to allow duly registered and eligible prison-electorates to exercise their franchise during all general elections in Nigeria.

This was even as it called on the electoral body to determine the status of the inmates that are constitutionally and legally qualified to be registered as eligible voters and should vote at elections.

The red chamber in a statement seen by Legit.ng, also urged the commission and relevant agencies to carry out voter’s enlightenment in all prisons in Nigeria, to educate the inmates of their rights and necessity to exercise their franchise in general elections.

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INEC raises alarm over 2023 polls, reveals what desperate politicians may do

2023: Reject chairmanship, aim for Aso Rock - APC chieftain tells north-central stalwarts

Meanwhile, chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the north-central region have been advised to reject the national chairmanship position purportedly reserved for the geo-political zone.

The advice was given to the north-central party chieftains by Terver Iyorgher, an APC chieftain from Benue state.

In a statement sent to journalists on Monday, February 28, Iyorgher wondered why the chairmanship position of the two major political parties in Nigeria has been reserved for the north-central region instead of the presidential seat.

2023: Operators of private jets charter experience boom ahead of polls

On the economic front, due to political activities across the country, private jet charter businesses in Nigeria is currently experiencing a boom.

With the 2023 general elections coming on stream and preparations of election into states and national offices on top gear, the political class has started making use of the aviation sub-sector again.

Since normal scheduled flights may not fit into their itineraries, politicians now resort to private jet charters to move across the country as it enables them to fulfil strict schedules and often complete multiple meetings in different cities and countries.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Jerrywright Ukwu avatar

Jerrywright Ukwu Jerrywright Ukwu is an Abuja-based senior political/defence correspondent. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos and the International Institute of Journalism in Abuja. He is also a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. He spends his leisure-time reading history books. He can be reached via email at jerrywright39@yahoo.com.