The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged political parties to strictly comply with their schedules for primaries ahead of the Anambra State governorship election slated for November 8, 2025.

The Commission also disclosed that only 12 out of the 19 registered political parties had submitted detailed schedules of their primaries in line with the electoral timetable.

The exercise is expected to commence on March 20 and end on April 10, 2025.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement on Thursday, noted that timely submission of primary schedules was critical to enabling INEC plan for effective monitoring.

He, however, urged the remaining seven parties yet to submit their schedules to do so immediately.

Olumekun: “The public may recall that in line with the provision of Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission published the Notice of Election on 13th November 2024, over 360 days before the date fixed for the election.

“By the provision of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election, the conduct of primaries for nomination of candidates by Political Parties commences in the next two weeks i.e. 20th March 2025 and ends on 10th April 2025.

“So far, 12 out of the 19 registered Political Parties in the country have submitted the detailed schedules of their primaries. As agreed at our last consultative meeting with Political Parties held in January, doing so early will enable the Commission to plan for the effective monitoring of the primaries in line with the provision of Section 84 of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The seven parties that are yet to submit the required information are hereby reminded to do so in earnest.

“Furthermore, we urge Political Parties to adhere strictly to their proposed schedules. Sudden changes to the dates, venues, and modes of the primaries lead to avoidable demobilisation and remobilisation of our monitoring staff, thereby disrupting the Commission’s workflow.

“This also adds to the cost of monitoring primaries and the overall conduct of elections and electoral activities.”