INEC publishes final list of cleared party candidates

• Lifts ban on political campaigns warns parties against malicious, hate speeches

From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final lists of candidates of the 17 political parties participating in the September Edo State governorship election.

INEC made the announcement in a statement signed by Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, and made available in Abuja on Monday.

The commission equally lifted the ban on public political campaigns, emphasising that the campaign window will start on Wednesday, April 24, and end at midnight on Thursday 19th September 2024.

It noted that its action was in accordance with the provision of Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which stipulated that campaigns by political parties in public shall commence not earlier than 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.

The electoral umpire equally warned the political parties to conduct their campaigns with civility and decorum devoid of inciting language, violence, voter inducement and other infractions contained in Sections 92 – 97 of the Electoral Act 2022.

Giving more details about the cleared candidates in the final list, the commission noted that 16 of them are male while only one is female, explaining that other statistics of the candidates like age, academic qualifications and disability, have been published at its Edo State office and uploaded to its website and social media platforms for public information.

The statement from the commission read: “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 15th April 2024.

“The Action Alliance (AA) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) replaced their governorship candidates and their running mates. In addition, the African Action Congress (AAC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Boot Party (BP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) replaced the running mates of their candidates only.

“Overall, 17 political parties are fielding candidates in the election. 16 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,” it noted.

On the commencement of the campaign by political parties in public, the electoral umpire declared: “With the publication of the final list of candidates for the Edo State Governorship Election, the next activity is an electioneering campaign.”

“As provided by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, campaigns 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 campaign in public from Wednesday 24th April 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.

“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 Edo State Governorship Election is scheduled to be held on Saturday 21st September 2024,” it noted.