The coast is clear for 18 presidential candidates to contest in next year’s election.
Eminent politician Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (All Progressives Congress), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (Peoples Democratic Party), Peter Obi (Labour Party), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (New Nigeria Peoples Party) and Adebayo Adewole (Social Democratic Party) were among standard bearers cleared yesterday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
this means that the flagbearers were considered validly nominated by their respective political parties by the commission.
Also cleared for the senatorial poll were 1,008 candidates, including Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi (Ebonyi South), former Niger Delta Affairs Minister Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom Northwest), Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu (PDP, Abia South).
Ahmed Lawan, the president of the Senate, wasn’t listed as a contender for the Yobe North District, nevertheless. Basir Machina, his opponent in the contest for the ticket, was not mentioned.
Additionally, INEC upheld the list of candidates put up by the PDP’s Dan Orbih faction in Edo State.
Political parties were allowed to make their own observations on the list, according to the electoral agency, but they had to be supported by affidavits and be signed by their national chairmen and secretaries.
Other prominent candidates on the list include Senator Sam Egwu (PDP, Ebonyi North), Orji Kalu (APC, Abia North), Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP, Abia North), Augustine Akobundu (PDP, Abia Central), Murtala Nyako (APC, Adamawa Central), Ismaila Adamu (APC, Adamawa South), Aminu Abbang (PDP, Adamawa Central), Amos Yohanna (PDP, Abia North), Dauda Yaroe (PDP, Adamawa South) and Bassey Aniekan (PDP, Akwa Ibom Northeast).
Others are Stella Oduah (PDP, Anambra North), Uche Ekwunife (PDP, Abia Central), Christian Ubah (PDP, Abia South), Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), Konbowei Benson (PDP, Bayelsa Central) and Benson Agadaga (PDP, Bayelsa East).
Other candidates include Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), Senator Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South), Funso Ayeni (PDP, Ekiti North), Olusegun Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North), Nnamani Chimaroke (PDP, Enugu East), Onyeagocha Uche (PDP Imo East), Kabiru Gaya (APC, Katsina Central), Atiku Bagudu (APC, Kebbi Central) and Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West).
A statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said: “All the 18 political parties have fielded candidates and their running mates for the presidential election.
“For legislative elections, 1,101 candidates are vying for 109 senatorial seats and 3,122 candidates for federal constituencies, i.e. House of Representatives seats, making a total of 4,223 candidates contesting for 469 legislative positions.
“In terms of gender distribution, 3,875 candidates are male, made up of 35 for presidential and vice presidential, 1,008 for Senate and 2,832 for House of Representatives.
“Similarly, 381 females comprising one for presidential, 92 for Senate, and 288 for House of Representatives are contesting. There are also 11 Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the race.
“At its regular weekly meeting yesterday, the commission approved the final list of candidates, pursuant to section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Item Eight of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.”
The statement said the publication of full names and addresses of nominated candidates followed the party primaries and completion of the nomination.
According to INEC, at end of the process, the personal particulars of all nominated candidates were displayed in their constituencies nationwide as provided by Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act.
The statement added: “Subsequently, validly nominated candidates had the opportunity to voluntarily withdraw their candidature by notice in writing and personally deliver such notice to the political party that nominated them for the election.
“Thereafter, political parties substituted such candidates under Section 31 of the Electoral Act for which the last day was 15th July 2022 for national elections and 12th August 2022 for state elections as clearly provided in Item Six of the Commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities.
“Thereafter, no withdrawal or substitution of candidates is allowed except in the event of death as provided in section 34(1) of the Electoral Act or pursuant to an order of a Court of competent jurisdiction”.
“The list published today contains the names of candidates validly nominated for national elections at the close of party primaries and the period earmarked for withdrawal and substitution of candidates.
“The final list of candidates for State elections (Governorship and State Constituencies) will be published on 4th October 2022 as already indicated on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.
“We note the fact that not all the political parties conducted primaries in all the constituencies, submitted the particulars of candidates that emerged from valid primaries or substituted their candidates after fresh primaries within 14 days as provided in section 33 of the Electoral Act.
“This has led to numerous litigations, some of which are ongoing. Where the Commission was served with Court orders by aggrieved aspirants or candidates before the publication of this list, these have been indicated under the remark column.
“The list for specific constituencies is published in each state where they are located while the comprehensive nationwide list has been uploaded to the Commission’s website.
“We appeal to all political parties to channel any observations on the list of candidates to the Commission and such must be signed by the national chairman and secretary of the political party and supported with an affidavit as provided in Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022.”
Mohammed Bukar, who passed away the previous week, was mentioned.
It was discovered that INEC had not been formally informed of his passing.
To represent the constituencies of Gujba, Gulani, Tarmuwa, and Damaturu, Bukar was proposed.
He battled a long illness before passing away in the Yobe State Teaching Hospital.
The website identified former governor Ibrahim Gaidam and senator Ibtrahim Bomoi.
