URGES PARTIES TO COMMENCE CAMPAIGN WEDNESDAY 24 APRIL 2024
Ahead of the Edo state governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published one female and 16 male in its final list.
A statement by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee Monday 22nd April 2024, said the final list also gives the breakdown of the candidates by age, academic qualifications, and disability, noting that every detail regarding the candidates is in the state’s office in Edo State and its official website and social media platforms for public information.
He said following the initial primaries, the Commission published the personal particulars of the Governorship candidates and their running mates in its State and Local Government offices in Edo State.
Stressing that as mandated by the provision of Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, some political parties conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates by the deadline of 15th April 2024.
The Action Alliance (AA) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) replaced their Governorship candidates and running mates. In addition, the African Action Congress (AAC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Boot Party (BP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) replaced the running mates of their candidates only. Overall, seventeen (17) political parties are fielding candidates in the election.
The commission also hinted that with the publication of the final list of candidates for the Edo State Governorship Election, all political parties are expected to commence public campaigns on Wednesday 24th April 2024 as the next line of action for the electioneering process begins.
As provided by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the campaign by Political Parties in public shall commence not earlier than 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours before that day.
Therefore, Political Parties are now permitted to start the campaign in public from Wednesday 24th April 2024, and end at midnight on Thursday 19th September 2024 as indicated in items 8 and 12 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.
As parties commence this critical phase of the election, the Commission reminds candidates, agents, and their supporters of the provision of the law and the Commission’s guidelines governing such activity.
It further emphasized the need to apply decorum devoid of inciting language, violence, voter inducement, and other infractions mentioned in Sections 92 – 97 of the Electoral Act 2022 as they prepare for the Saturday 21st September 2024 governorship election in the state.
