The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday in Abakaliki displayed the list of governorship candidates nominated by political parties for the 2023 governorship race in Ebonyi.

Ifeanyi Odii of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Francis Nwifuru, speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly and APC candidate, made the list.

Also cleared by the commission to run for the governorship in Ebonyi was Bernard Odoh, a former Secretary to State Government (SSG) of APGA, Edward Nkwegu, LP and Chukwuma Nwandugo of the Action Alliance (AA).

Other governorship candidates shortlisted by the commission include Sunday Opoke for the Young People’s Party (YPP) and Anthony Usulor of the Nigerian Renaissance Movement (NRM).

Joseph Chukwu, the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), who announced the release to journalists in his office in Abakaliki, said the display was in line with Section 32 (1) of the Electoral Act.

“The law empowers the commission to display the final list of the authentic candidates for any election 150 days to the Election Day,” Mr Chukwu said.

According to him, 13 political parties fielded governorship candidates and their running mates for Ebonyi’s March 2023 gubernatorial election.

He said that 15 political parties also fielded 246 candidates for the House of Assembly Election and added that campaigns for the governorship and state assembly elections would commence on October 12.

The REC, therefore, advised gubernatorial and the house of assembly candidates against flouting the provisions of electoral law by kicking off their campaigns before the stipulated time.

“246 candidates across political parties will contest seats in Ebonyi’s 24 state assembly constituencies.

“We wish to warn that campaigns for the governorship and house of assembly elections have not started; the campaigns will commence on October 12 as provided in the 2022 electoral law.

“It’s an offence for political parties or their candidates to embark on campaigns outside the INEC-approved timetable of activities,” Mr Chukwu said. 

Last month, the Supreme Court declared Mr Odii as the validly elected candidate of the PDP for the Ebonyi governorship election after a legal dispute with Obinna Ogba.

(NAN)