Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) outlined the conditions for validly nominated governorship candidates to withdraw from the 2023 race yesterday.
According to the agency, such candidates should write a notice and hand it to the political parties that nominated them.
This was revealed by the Commission when the final list of candidates for state elections was released.
“Validly nominated candidates have the opportunity to voluntarily withdraw their candidature by notice in writing and personally deliver such notice to the political party that nominated them for the election,” said Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee.
“Thereafter, political parties will substitute such candidates under Section 31 of the Electoral Act, the deadline for which was August 12, 2022 for state elections, as clearly stated in Item 6 of the Commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities.” Following that, no withdrawal or substitution of candidates is permitted, except in the case of death, as provided in Section 34(1) of the Electoral Act, or by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.”
“Pursuant to Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and item 8 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election, the Commission published the final list of candidates for state elections today, 4th October 2022,” he added (governorship and state assembly constituencies).
“The publication of the full names of candidates standing for state elections follows the completion of the nomination process by political parties.” It should be noted that at the end of the process, political parties that held valid primaries uploaded the list and personal information of all nominated candidates to the Commission’s candidate nomination portal, which was then displayed in their constituencies across the country, as required by Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act.
“Thereafter, validly nominated candidates were given the opportunity to voluntarily withdraw their candidacy by giving written notice to the political party that nominated them for the election.” Following that, political parties substituted such candidates under Section 31 of the Electoral Act, which stated that the deadline for State Elections was August 12, 2022, as stated in Item 6 of the Commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities.
“Thereafter, no withdrawal or substitution of candidates is permitted except in the event of death as provided in section 34(1) of the Electoral Act or by order of a Court of competent jurisdiction.”
According to the statement, “in summary, the 18 political parties have fielded 837 candidates and their running mates for the 28 Governorship elections due in 2023.” In the State Assembly elections, there are 10 231 candidates vying for 993 State Assembly seats.
“The list for specific constituencies is published in each state where they are located, and the comprehensive nationwide 894-page list is available on the Commission’s website.”
“Political parties are required to channel any observations on the list of candidates to the Commission, and such observations must be signed by the political party’s National Chairman and Secretary.”
