INEC: 16 Political Parties Meet Deadline for Edo Governorship Election Candidate Nominations

Sixteen out of the eighteen political parties that conducted primaries for the forthcoming September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election have successfully submitted their candidates’ nominations within the stipulated timeframe, announced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Sam Olumekun, the INEC National Commissioner overseeing the Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday. While he did not specify the parties that failed to nominate their candidates, sources informed Vanguard that the National Rescue Movement (NRM) and the Youth Party (YP) were among those that missed the deadline.

Notable parties such as the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Labour Party (LP) managed to beat the March 24 deadline. Among the candidates uploaded are Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, Senator Monday Okpebholo representing the APC, and Olumide Akpata from the LP.

Olumekun stated, “Following the conclusion of party primaries, 17 political parties have uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms for the Edo State Governorship Election by the deadline of 6.00 pm on 24th March 2024 when the dedicated portal automatically shut down.”

He further elaborated that the personal details of the gubernatorial candidates and their running mates would be made public on Saturday, March 30, 2024, as mandated by Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022. The Commission plans to display copies of Form EC9, including all academic credentials and relevant documents submitted by each candidate, at the State Headquarters and 18 Local Government offices across Edo State.

Olumekun urged Nigerians to scrutinize these documents, emphasizing that any aspirant who suspects false information provided by a candidate can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court, as stipulated in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.