Ebonyi Guber: PDP’s Odii, 12 others in INEC’s final list of candidates
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday in Abakaliki displayed the list of governorship candidates nominated by political parties for the 2023 governorship race in Ebonyi.
Ifeanyi Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Francis Nwifuru, speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly and APC candidate, made the list.
Also cleared by the commission to run for the governorship in Ebonyi was Bernard Odoh, a former Secretary to State Government (SSG) of APGA, Edward Nkwegu, LP and Chukwuma Nwandugo of the Action Alliance (AA).
Other governorship candidates shortlisted by the commission include Sunday Opoke for the Young People’s Party (YPP) and Anthony Usulor of the Nigerian Renaissance Movement (NRM).
Joseph Chukwu, the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), who announced the release to journalists in his office in Abakaliki, said the display was in line with Section 32 (1) of the Electoral Act.
“The law empowers the commission to display the final list of the authentic candidates for any election 150 days to the Election Day,” Mr Chukwu said.
According to him, 13 political parties fielded governorship candidates and their running mates for Ebonyi’s March 2023 gubernatorial election.
He said that 15 political parties also fielded 246 candidates for the House of Assembly Election and added that campaigns for the governorship and state assembly elections would commence on October 12.
The REC, therefore, advised gubernatorial and the house of assembly candidates against flouting the provisions of electoral law by kicking off their campaigns before the stipulated time.
“246 candidates across political parties will contest seats in Ebonyi’s 24 state assembly constituencies.
“We wish to warn that campaigns for the governorship and house of assembly elections have not started; the campaigns will commence on October 12 as provided in the 2022 electoral law.
“It’s an offence for political parties or their candidates to embark on campaigns outside the INEC-approved timetable of activities,” Mr Chukwu said.
Last month, the Supreme Court declared Mr Odii as the validly elected candidate of the PDP for the Ebonyi governorship election after a legal dispute with Obinna Ogba.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Kano architects demand strict enforcement of building regulations
Disturbed by recurring cases of building collapses, the Kano State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects has called for strict enforcement of building regulations.
States
Flooding: NEMA, KADSEMA search for missing persons in Kaduna River
NEMA and KADSEMA have launched a search-and-rescue operation for two persons swept away by floodwaters in the Kaduna River.
States
Police rescue 15 cows, one Katsina resident from bandits
The police command in Katsina says it has foiled kidnap and cattle rustling attempts in Funtua and Musawa council areas, rescuing one kidnap victim and recovering 15 rustled cows.
Agriculture
Farmers seek subsidised farm inputs to boost food production in Taraba
The farmers said the high cost and limited availability of fertilisers and other essential farm inputs had become major constraints as the rainy season commenced.
Politics
Kaduna: 12,000 people defect to APC in Lere LG
Twelve thousand members of opposition political parties have defected to the All Progressives Congress in the Lere council area of Kaduna.
Anti-Corruption
LS Cable & System USA agrees to pay $4 million to resolve PPP loan fraud allegations
LS Cable & System USA has agreed to pay $4 million to the United States to resolve allegations of false claims for payments under the Paycheck Protection Programme loans.
