INEC Publishes Final List of Candidates for Edo Election
INEC Publishes Final List of Candidates for the Edo Governorship Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission – INEC – has announced the final list of candidates for the Edo State Governorship Election.
This follows the initial primaries and compilation of personal particulars of the Governorship candidates and their running mates in INEC State and Local Government offices in Edo State.
According to a statement signed by Sam Olumekun mni, National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, this is 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.
According to the statement, Action Alliance (AA) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) replaced their Governorship candidates and their running mates, while 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.
On the whole, seventeen (17) political parties are fielding candidates in the election. Sixteen (16) are male while one (1) is female. The final list, which also gives the breakdown of the candidates by age, academic qualifications, and disability, has been published at the INEC office in Edo State and uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms for public information.
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 before that day.
Therefore, Political Parties are now permitted to start a campaign in public from Wednesday, April 24, 2024, and end at midnight on Thursday, September 19, 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 for Saturday, September 21, 2024.
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