Sixteen of the eighteen political parties, which conducted primaries for the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election, have beaten the March 24 deadline for the nomination of their candidates on the special portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, who announced this in a statement, on Wednesday, however, did not disclose the parties that could not nominate its candidates.
However, according to Vanguard, some sources said that the National Rescue Movement and Youth Party did not meet the deadline.
On the other, the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress and Labour Party among others beat the deadline. Names of candidates uploaded include Dr Asue Ighodalo (PDP), Senator Monday Okpebholo (APC), and Olumide Akpata (LP).
Olumekun said: “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.”
According to him, the personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their running mates will be published on Saturday, March 30, 2024, a week from the last date for the submission of nominations as provided in Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“The Commission shall publish the personal particulars by displaying copies of Form EC9 along with all academic credentials and other documents submitted by each candidate at the State Headquarters and the 18 Local Government offices across Edo State.
“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents. Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.”