By Adeyinka Adedipe
The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Monday, released the final list of candidates for the upcoming governorship election in Edo State.
The list has 17 candidates, 16 of whom are males while one is a female.
Furthermore, INEC declared that electioneering campaigns will begin on Wdnesday, April 24, 2024, ahead of the September 21, 2024 election.
After the initial primaries, INEC had previously published the personal details of the governorship candidates and their running mates across state and local government offices in Edo State.
INEC, through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, announced that some political parties organised new primaries to substitute their earlier selected candidates before the April 15, 2024 deadline.
Olumekun said, “The commission is pleased to announce the publication of the final list of candidates for the Edo State governorship election. Following the initial primaries, the commission published the personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their running mates in our state and local government offices in Edo State.
“In line with the provision of Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, some political parties conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates by the deadline of April 15, 2024. The Action Alliance and African Democratic Congress replaced their governorship candidates and their running mates. In addition, the African Action Congress, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Boot Party, and the New Nigeria People’s Party only replaced the running mates of their candidates.
“Overall, 17 political parties are fielding candidates in the election. Sixteen are male while one is female.
“The final list, which also gives the breakdown of the candidates by age, academic qualifications, and disability, has been published at our office in Edo State and also uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information.”
Olumekun also announced that political campaigns begin on Wednesday (April 24, 2024) and will end on September 19, 2024.
He said, “With the publication of the final list of candidates for the Edo State governorship election, the next activity is electioneering campaigns.
“As provided by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the campaign by political parties in public shall commence not earlier than 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.
“Therefore, political parties are now permitted to start campaigning in public from Wednesday, April 24, 2024, and end at midnight on Thursday, 19th September 2024, as indicated in items 8 and 12 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.”
INEC issued a stern reminder to all candidates, agents, and supporters to conduct their campaigns with civility and decorum, in strict adherence to the provisions of the law.
Sections 92 to 97 of the Electoral Act 2022 were emphasised by the commission, highlighting the importance of avoiding inciting language, violence, and voter inducement.
Olumekun warned, “As parties commence this critical phase of the election, the commission reminds candidates, agents, and their supporters of the provision of the law and the commission’s guidelines governing such activity.
“For emphasis, parties shall conduct their campaigns with civility and decorum devoid of inciting language, violence, voter inducement, and other infractions mentioned in Sections 92-97 of the Electoral Act 2022.”
The governorship candidates and their running mates include; Accord (Iyere Kennedy and Enabulele Bright); Action Alliance (Iseghohi Tom and Onaiwu Nmwen); African Action Congress (Udoh David and Osunde Osas); African Democratic Congress (Izedonmwen Derek and Osagie Philip); Action Democratic Party (Akhimie Kingson and Obazee Ramatu)
Others include; All Progressives Congress (Okpebholo Monday and Idahosa Dennis); All Progressives Grand Alliance (Osifo Isaiah and Bello Aneru); Allied Peoples Party (Ugiagbe Sylvester and Εzomo Ede); Action Peoples Party (Areloegbe Osalumese and Oyarenua Paul); Boot Party, (Osiriame Edeipo and Omorogbe Kingsley); Labour Party (Akpata Anthony and Alufohai Faith); New Nigeria People’s Party (Azena Friday and
Isokpan Ihueghian); Peoples Democratic Party (Ighodalo Asuerinme and Ogie Osarodion); Peoples Redemption Party (Key Ndidi and Ojo Advice); Social Democratic Party (Anerua Aliu and Amedu Paul); Young Progressives Party (Okungbowa Ovbokhan and Mustapha Tijani) and Zenith Labour Party (Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena and Idubor Olamilayo).
Source: The Punch
