Edo guber: INEC alerts Nigerians on candidates’ particulars, reveals when final list ‘ll be out

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that at the close of nominations at 6pm on June 29, 2020, 14 out of the 15 political parties which earlier indicated interest to contest the Edo governorship election used the dedicated online portal of the commission to submit the list of candidates that emerged from their primaries. 

According to a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Barrister Festus Okoye, “the provisional list of the candidates disaggregated on the basis of name, gender, age and qualification has been uploaded on our website and social media platforms.” 

The statement noted that the particulars of the nominated candidates will be published in the Edo state office of the commission and simultaneously uploaded on our website as required by law, on Thursday July 2, 2020.

The Commission encouraged members of the public to go through the nomination forms, affidavits and documents submitted by the parties on behalf of their candidates, adding that “any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information in the affidavit or any document submitted by any candidate is false, may file a suit at the Federal High Court, High Court of a State or the FCT against such a candidate seeking a declaration that the information contained in the affidavit is false.” 

It noted that the final list of duly nominated candidates will be published on August 13, 2020 after withdrawals by candidates and substitution by their political parties. 
On the Ondo governorship election and Nasarawa Central State Constituency bye election, the statement reminded political parties interested in nominating candidates for both elections that the conduct of party primaries would commence on July 2 and end on July 25, 2020. 

It further stated that the last date for the submission of the names of duly nominated candidates is July 28, 2020. For the Nasarawa state central constituency bye-election, the conduct of primaries for the nomination of candidates starts on June 30 and will end on July 6, 2020. 

On nomination of candidates for the Ondo state governorship and Nasarawa central state constituency bye-election and all subsequent elections to be conducted by the commission, the statement urged the parties to also  use the newly introduced dedicated portal. 

It also urged, political parties to obtain their nomination access codes from the commission for the bye-election and upload the list of their candidates and their particulars to the dedicated portal between July 3 and July 7, 2020. 

It further stated that “for the Ondo governorship election, the commission’s dedicated portal for the submission of the names of candidates that emerge from valid party primaries will open on July 21 and close on July 28, 2020.

Political parties are encouraged to submit the list of their candidates on time as the portal will automatically close at 6pm on the last date for the submission of nominations.”

The commission enjoined “all political parties, candidates, aspirants and supporters to obey all Laws, Regulations and Guidelines especially in their campaigns. Equally important is the need for strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols to ensure their safety and well-being, as well as that of members of the public.”