Edo State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Saturday, pasted the particulars of political parties’ candidates and their running mates for the governorship election in the state slated for September 21, 2024.
The particulars were displayed at the INEC office in Aduwawa in Benin, and all 18 local government offices of the Commission in the state.
The Edo State INEC Head, Voters Education and Publicity, Timidi Wariowei, said that the pasting of the particulars was in line with the electoral law, adding that the political parties and the members of the public could now view the particulars of the candidates and their running mates.
“In Compliance with the law, today, being the 30th of March, 2024, the INEC Edo State Office and the I8 local government area offices have pasted form EC9 which is personal particulars of the 17 candidates and their deputies. The form also includes the credentials of the candidates.
“We have done this in line with the electoral law and the public and parties can go to all the local government offices to check the list,” Wariowei said.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, had earlier in a letter dated Wednesday, March 27, 2024, directed the Edo INEC to display the particulars.
The letter reads: “Following the conclusion of party primaries, seventeen (17) Political Parties have uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms for the Edo State Governorship Election by the deadline of 6.00 pm on 24th March 2024 when the dedicated portal automatically shut down.
“The personal particulars of the Governorship candidates and their running mates will be published on Saturday 30th March 2024, a week from the last date for the submission of nominations as provided in Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“The commission shall publish the personal particulars by displaying copies of Form EC9 along with all academic credentials and other documents submitted by each candidate at the State Headquarters and the 18 Local Government offices across Edo.
“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents. Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.
In the displayed list, Mr Uwaifo Osaro is the governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Aner Abdullai Aliu, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Azena Azemhe Friday and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Osifo Isiah.
Others are All People Movement (APM) Ugiagbe Odaro Syvelster, Areleogbe Amos Osalumese All Peoples Party (APP), Akhime Kingson Afere Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Action Congress (AAC) Udoh Obersifo David and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is Ighodalo Asuerinme, Boot Party (BP) Osirame Edeipo, and Accord Party (AP) has Enabulele Bright as its governorship candidate.
African Democratic Congress (ADC) has Obazele Paul Agbone, Labour Party (LP) Olumide Akpata Anthony, All Progressives Congress (APC) Okpebholo Monday, People Redemption Party (PRP), Key patience Ndidi and Young Progressive Party (YPP) Okungbowa Paul Ovbokhan.
