The final list of candidates for the Nov. 11 elections for governor of Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi has been made public by the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC.
Governor Diri Duoye of the PDP, Chief Sylva Timipre of the APC, Mr. Eradiri Udengmobofa of the LP, Mr. Osuluku Binalatefa of the SDP, and Mrs. Ogege Mercy of the APP were among those listed for the Bayelsa election.
The contenders for Kogi are Leke Abejide of the ADC, Dino Melaye of the PDP, Malam Ahmed Ododo of the APC, and Suleiman Fati of the ZLP.
APC governor Hope Uzodinmma, PDP’s Ayanwu Samuel, NNPP’s Odunzeh Ben, and LP’s Achony Nneji were among those on the list of candidates for the Imo election.
The list was approved by the commission during its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, according to Mr. Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner and Chair of the Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement released in Abuja.
According to Okoye, the choice was made in accordance with the Electoral Act of 2022’s Section 32(1) provision.
Following the period for voluntary withdrawal and replacement of candidates by political parties under clause 31 of the Electoral Act 2022, he claimed that the clause required the list to be published not later than 150 days before election day, or Friday, June 9.
The Commission’s website and social media channels have both received the final list.
“Same will be published in our State and Local Government offices in the affected States on Thursday, June 8 ahead of the statutory deadline of June 9, ” Okoye added.
According to the list, all 18 political parties ran candidates in the Kogi election, compared to 17 parties in Imo and 16 parties in Bayelsa.
The list also revealed that while only one party nominated a female candidate for the Kogi poll, two major parties ran female candidates for the Bayelsa poll.
Okoye reminded political parties and their candidates that the public campaigning would officially begin on Wednesday, June 14, in accordance with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, and end on November 9, or 24 hours before election day.
As calm electioneering heralds a peaceful election, we kindly request that parties and candidates conduct their political activities with decorum and politeness.
Before the election, Okoye stated that it is the duty of political parties and candidates to defuse tension.
