UPDATE; INEC publishes Imo, Kogi, Bayelsa Gov candidates Friday

The Independent National Electoral Commission. (INEC) will publish the personal particulars of all the candidates contesting the November 11 governorship elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa States on Friday.

INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye said in a statement that all the registered political parties have submitted a list of their candidates for the polls.

The statement informed 17 political parties also indicated interest to contest the elections in Imo and Bayelsa States.

He asked candidates who contested the primaries in the three states and are dissatisfied with the outcome to approach the Federal High Court to seek redress in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

The statement reads: “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.

“All the 18 political parties have 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”.