We Have No Candidate In Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi Elections – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the electoral agency has no candidate in the November 11 governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States.

The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made this known in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

Yakubu also pledged to ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates in the elections, adding that the staff of the Commission are ready for the off-cycle elections.

The INEC chairman stated that the responsibility of the Commission is to safeguard the process and ensure a level playing field for all political parties and candidates.

He said: “In less than 48 hours, 5,169,692 Nigerians who collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) are expected to vote in off-cycle Governorship elections. This is the first time in our history that these elections are held on the same day and across three geo-political zones of the country: North Central (Kogi), South East (Imo) and South South (Bayelsa).

“As we approach Election Day, I wish to call on our officials (both regular and ad-hoc) to demonstrate the highest level of patriotism and professionalism. As I said repeatedly, not least during my recent readiness assessment visits to the three States, INEC is not a political party, and we have no candidate in the election.”