INEC Urges Aspirants To Raise Objections Against False Declaration By Candidates For Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi States Guber Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged aspirants in the forthcoming Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states governorship elections to come forward with their objections against any false declarations by the candidates of political parties.

The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, made the call as the Commission publishes the personal particulars of the candidates in the State Headquarters and Local Government offices in the three States Friday 12th May 2023 in line with the section 29 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

Further, he charged the public to take time out to scrutinize the list and the candidates.

According to a statement by Okoye, “Nigerians may recall that on Tuesday 25th October 2022, the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the three off-cycle Governorship elections in Bayelsa, lmo and Kogi States holding on Saturday 11th November 2023.

“Political parties conducted their primaries as required by law and uploaded the names and personal particulars of their candidates and running mates to the INEC candidate nomination portal by the deadline of 6.00pm on 5th May 2023.”

He revealed that all the 18 political parties had nominated candidates for the Kogi Governorship election and 17 parties for Bayelsa and Imo States.

“All the political parties sponsoring candidates for the three elections have submitted the duly completed Forms EC9 containing personal particulars supported by sworn affidavits as well as EC9B containing the names of their candidates.

“As required by section 29 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission shall publish the personal particulars of the candidates in the State Headquarters and Local Government offices in the three States tomorrow Friday 12th May 2023.

“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the list. In particular, any aspirant who participated in his/her party’s primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination at the Federal High Court as provided in section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022”, he stated.