Edo 2020: INEC Releases Final List Of Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates eligible to participate in the September 19 governorship election in Edo State, southern Nigeria.

Naija News reports that the list of the governorship candidates published on INEC website and at the 19 local government areas of the stat, shows that the incumbent governor, Godwin Obaseki and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will slug it out with Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 12 other candidates.

This online news platform recalls that the electoral umpire had set July 13 as the deadline for withdrawal and substitution of candidates for Edo 2020 election, however, only three parties – the Action Alliance (AA), Labour Party (LP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) substituted their candidates earlier nominated for the poll before the expiration date.

In a statement Saturday, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, stated that political parties can no longer withdraw or substitute any of the nominated candidates.

According to him, “By Section 35 of the Electoral Act and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities of the commission, the withdrawal and substitution of candidates for the Edo Governorship election ended on July 13, 2020.

“With the publication of the Final List of candidates, no Political Party can withdraw or substitute any of the nominated candidates or tamper with the List and particulars of the candidates in a manner inconsistent with the intendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

“We urge Political Parties to pay close attention to the timelines stipulated in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities of the Commission as well as the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.”