Analysts believe the extension was to pave way for former president Jonathan, who was cleared earlier today by a court, to contest on the platform of the APC
In a move political pundits interpret as a ploy to accommodate some political heavy weights in the primary elections earlier scheduled for this weekend, the as The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has adjusted the electoral timetable, extending the deadline for political parties to conduct primaries.
This is coming few hours after the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, ruled that the former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, is eligible to contest the 2023 presidential election.
The decision to extend the deadline, according to sources, was to accommodate the former president who is rumored to be interested in contesting on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC)
The commission extended the deadline after meeting with the leadership of the 18 registered political parties.
At the meeting which held at INEC headquarters in Abuja, the Inter Party Advisory Commission (IPAC) asked for a week extension for political parties to conclude the conduct of their presidential conventions and primaries.
IPAC chairman, Engr Yabagi Yusuf Sani, urged INEC to adjust its June 3rd timeline for the conduct of primaries.
Sani said, “I want to thank you for giving us the very official time to meet with you once again on the issue of how the parties can collaborate with you to ensure that we have a crisis-free election as we conduct our primaries.”
