Isaacs Kekeme, one of the governorship aspirants on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State on Wednesday, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should extend the date for the conduct of party primaries ahead of the 2020 gubernatorial election in the state by one month.
He said that since the handover of government would take place on February 12, 2021 in the state, the commission could still extend the election in the state by one month.
The APC pioneer chairman in the state, who had moved round all the wards to showcase his programmes to the people before the COVID-19 lockdown, however, said APC would go on with its earlier scheduled gubernatorial primary election programme.
He exonerated INEC from any complicity, saying it adhered to dictates of the Electoral Act, which stated that gubernatorial elections must hold at least three months before the handover date.
The former state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, added that INEC could still be flexible in its operations with a view to allowing aspirants cover for the lost grounds due to COVID-19 lockdown.
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On the alleged call for online campaigns, Kekemeke cautioned INEC not to engage in acts capable of disenfranchising Ondo people.
He said: “In the case of Ondo, INEC still has a window of one month between October 10 and November 23 to cover for lost grounds. It can add one month extension to cover for what it lost to enable parties prepare adequately for these elections. This is in order for us to have an effective democracy.
“We must not hinder or hamper effective participation of the people. The people are important factor. There must be adequate time to mobilise them, there must be adequate time to sensitise them.
“There must be adequate time for parties to finish with their internal preparations and for them to move around. If two months have been lost and we still have a window of one month, why don’t we add it to make us to do what we want to do.”
