The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially released the final list of candidates for the Edo State governorship election scheduled for September 21. Sam Olumekun, the INEC national commissioner and chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, made this announcement in a statement released yesterday.
Olumekun stated that political parties are permitted to begin public campaigning from Wednesday, April 24, and conclude at midnight on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in accordance with items 8 and 12 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.
Following the initial primaries, the Commission published the personal details of the governorship candidates and their running mates in its state and local government offices in Edo State. Some political parties conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates by the deadline of April 15, 2024. The Action Alliance (AA) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) replaced their governorship candidates and their running mates. Additionally, 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.
In total, 17 political parties are fielding candidates in the election, with 16 being male and one female. The final list, which includes the breakdown of the candidates by age, academic qualifications, and disability, has been published at the Commission’s office in Edo State and uploaded to its website and social media platforms for public access.
With the publication of the final list of candidates, the next phase of the election process is the electioneering campaign. Political parties are now allowed to commence campaigning in public from Wednesday, April 24, 2024, and conclude at midnight on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in accordance with electoral regulations.
As campaigning begins, the Commission emphasizes the need for candidates, agents, and supporters to adhere to the law and the Commission’s guidelines governing campaign activities. Parties are expected to conduct their campaigns with civility and decorum, avoiding inciting language, violence, voter inducement, and other infractions outlined in Sections 92 – 97 of the Electoral Act 2022.
