The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has approved the final list of candidates for the three off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States on Saturday, November 11, 2023.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday said the decision is in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires the publication of the list not later than 150 days to election day.
It was also contained in the statement that in the list, all 18 political parties fielded candidates in Kogi State, 17 in Imo State and 16 in Bayelsa State, out of which two political parties had female candidates in Bayelsa State, one in Kogi State and none in Imo State.
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Okoye said in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the three elections, as well as Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, campaigns will officially begin on Wednesday 14 June 2023 to end on 9 November 2023, 24 hours before election day.
The Commission however expressed worry over the incident involving the convoys of two political actors in Kogi State, which resulted in the destruction of vehicles and other property ahead of the official start of campaigns and urged political parties and candidates to conduct their political activities with civility and decorum.
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
