2023: INEC publishes final list of candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates for 2023 national elections.

The general elections will be conducted for Presidential, National and State constituencies as well as governorship, but the list covered only the federal positions.

The list of candidates for the presidential elections includes Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP), Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso of New Nigeria Party (NNPP), Sowere Stephen of the African Action Congress (AAC ), Kachikwu Dumebi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and 12 others with their running mates.

Mr Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, on Tuesday in Abuja, said that INEC at its regular weekly meeting held on Tuesday approved the final list of candidates for the polls.

Okoye said that the publication was in pursuant to Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and item 8 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.

He said that the publication of the full names and addresses of all nominated candidates follows the political parties’ conduct of primaries and completion of the nomination exercise.

He recalled that at end of the process, the personal particulars of all nominated candidates were displayed in their constituencies nationwide as provided by Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act.

“Subsequently, validly nominated candidates had the opportunity to voluntarily withdraw their candidature by notice in writing and personally deliver such notice to the political party that nominated them for the election.

“Thereafter, political parties substituted such candidates under Section 31 of the Electoral Act for which the last day was 15th July 2022 for national elections and 12th August 2022 for State elections as clearly provided in item 6 of the Commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities.

“Thereafter, no withdrawal or substitution of candidates is allowed except in the event of death as provided in section 34(1) of the Electoral Act or pursuant to an order of a Court of competent jurisdiction.’’

Okoye said that the list published contained the names of candidates validly nominated for national elections at the close of party primaries and the period earmarked for withdrawal and substitution of candidates.

He added the final list of candidates for State elections (Governorship and State Constituencies) would be published on Oct. 4,  as already indicated on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.

“We note the fact that not all the political parties conducted primaries in all the constituencies, submitted the particulars of candidates that emerged from valid primaries or substituted their candidates after fresh primaries within 14 days as provided in Section 33 of the Electoral Act.

“This has led to numerous litigations, some of which are ongoing.

“Where the Commission was served with Court orders by aggrieved aspirants or candidates before the publication of this list, these have been indicated under the remark column.’’

OKoye said that in summary, all the 18 political parties have fielded candidates and their running mates for the Presidential election.

“For legislative elections, 1,101 candidates are vying for 109 Senatorial seats and 3,122 candidates for Federal Constituencies i.e. House of Representatives seats, making a total of 4,223 candidates contesting for 469 legislative positions.

“In terms of gender distribution, 3,875 candidates are male, made up of 35 for Presidential and Vice Presidential, 1,008 for Senate and 2,832 for House of Representatives.

“Similarly, 381 females comprising one for Presidential, 92 for Senate, and 288 for House of Representatives are contesting. There are also 11 Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the race.’’

Okoye said that the list for specific constituencies was published in each state where they were located while the comprehensive nationwide list had been uploaded to the Commission’s website.

He therefore appealed to all political parties to channel any observations on the list of candidates to the commission.

He, however, added that such must be signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the political party and supported with an affidavit as provided in Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022.

2023: INEC clears Umahi, 79 others for NASS elections in Ebonyi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Tuesday published the list of 80 successful candidates, including Gov. David Umahi, for the 2023 National Assembly elections in Ebonyi.

The state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Joseph Chukwu, disclosed this at a news briefing at the INEC headquarters on Tuesday in Abakaliki.

Chukwu said that the list had been displayed at the state headquarters and INEC Offices in the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.

He said that the commission cleared 32 presidential and vice presidential candidates from the 18 registered political parties for the 2023 poll.

He said the display of the list of cleared candidates was in compliance with section 32 (1) of the Electoral Act.

The section provides that the names of candidates sponsored by political parties shall be published 150 days before the election.

A breakdown of the list showed 29 Senatorial and 51 House Representatives candidates from the three senatorial districts and six federal constituencies of Ebonyi.

Gov. Dave Umahi made the senatorial list as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Ebonyi South.

2023: Ayade challenges INEC on free, fair poll in C/River

Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Cross River.

The Governor gave the challenge on Wednesday in Calabar when he received the new Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr Alalibo Johnson.

Ayade, however, assured the INEC of peaceful atmosphere before and during the 2023 general elections in the state.

He noted that given the new REC’s track records and integrity, he had no doubt he would deliver.

According to him, “On behalf of the good people of Cross River State, l hereby give you that commitment that we will guarantee you free and safe elections.

“We also call on the INEC to please honour its pledge too so that we can have free, fair, credible, reliable and dependable elections.

“Government is not going to in any way influence your process, but we want to say that we are available and willing to support you at all times that INEC will so require our services.”

Ayade commended the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu “who has distinguished himself in this country”.

Speaking further, he said “Never before have we had an INEC Chairman who has enjoyed the mutual trust from both the ruling party and the opposition parties.

“This is one chairman who has conducted his elections and results returned based on what is on the ground.

“He is not subject to any inducement, he is subject to the God that he serves and l want to say that his name would go down in history as one of the very best INEC Chairmen that we have ever had. God bless him and God will continue to sustain him.”

Earlier in his speech, the new REC who harped on the need for a conducive atmosphere, noted that it is what is needed for free and fair elections to thrive.

“There is no way we can conduct a free and fair election without security. We call on you to use your good offices to ensure that we have peace in the state.

“Peace in the sense that people can move freely to vote for candidates of their choice, and also, we at the back end of INEC can do our job without intimidation,” he stated.

The REC disclosed that about 90,000 uncollected PVCs were listed across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state and appealed to the registrants to come forward and pick up their PVCs.

He also said that with the creation of new polling units, Cross River now had 3,281 Polling units.