The All Progressives Congress (APC) has shifted its special convention for the presidential primary earlier scheduled for May 29-30 to June 6-8.

Felix Morka, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, announced this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

“This follows the Independent National Electoral Commission’s extension of the deadline for the submission of a list of candidates by political parties.

“The APC hereby postpones its Special Convention for Presidential Primary from May 29 to 30 to Monday, June 6 to Wednesday June 8, 2022,” he said.

INEC on Friday acceded to a request by APC and some political parties to review the deadline for political party primaries provided in the timetable and schedule of activities for 2023 general elections.

The parties had requested for a 37 – 60 days extension of the timeline for primaries and the nomination of candidates.

Festus Okoye, the commission’s Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said the request was granted in respect to outstanding primaries of political parties only, without prejudice to those already concluded.

“The commission has decided to allow the request of the political parties since the six day period does not conflict with the next scheduled activity which is the submission of a list of nominated candidates or any of the subsequent timelines which remain sacrosanct.

“However, this request is granted in respect of outstanding primaries only, without prejudice to those already concluded by political parties.

“The commission will not monitor already concluded primaries,” Mr Okoye had said.

Initially jolted by INEC’s decision, the major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, at an emergency meeting Friday night, considered shifting its own presidential primary to nullify the perceived ‘INEC-APC collusion’.

The party, however, decided against a postponement noting its lack of latitude possessed by the ruling party.

NAN