The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 35 registered political parties may not participate in the Nigeria’s 2019 general elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Rivers, Obo Effanga, said at a media briefing today, Friday in Port Harcourt did not give the names of the parties and reasons for their inability to take part in the next years elections.
The commissioner explained that out of 91 political parties which INEC registered so far, only 56 of them are ready to fully take part in the election eventhogh, he stressed that the commission is interested in all the 91 registered political parties.
“But the commission would only deal with political parties that registered for the election in 2019.”
He assured Rivers people that the commission was ready to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2019, stressing: “we assure you that on the day of the elections, every material needed for the elections would be ready to ensure free, fair and credible process.”
Effanga noted that the Card Readers would be used for the 2019 general elections, saying that any voter who is not accredited by the Card Reader would not cast his or her vote.
He explained that provisions would be made if the Card Reader developed any hitch in the process even as he called on community leaders to advise their youths against disrupting the elections.
He emphasized that INEC will not conduct in any community that could not advise its youths to be of good conduct, advising stakeholders to play their part properly.
He said that security agencies, the political class, among others, should ensure that the 2019 general elections were successful.
According to him, any politician who would have objections of any kind concerning the 2019 general elections should go to court to seek redress.
He called on the electorate to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards at their areas of registration to enable them to exercise their franchise on the day of the election.
