The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates that will participate in the February 3 legislative by-elections.
The polls are for filling the vacant seats in the Senate, the House of Representatives, and some states’ Houses of Assembly.
The vacancies followed the resignations and death of elected members.
Two seats are vacant in the Senate as a result of resignations for appointments in the Executive arm of government; three seats became vacant in the House of Representatives due two resignations and one death.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, explained that the final list, which has been published in the state offices of the commission and the affected constituencies, is for the by-elections only.
The statement reads: “Nigerians may recall that recently the commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for by-elections arising from the deaths or resignations of members of the National and states’ Houses of Assembly.
“These elections will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024 across nine states of the federation covering two senatorial districts (Ebonyi South and Yobe East); four Federal Constituencies (Shanga/Ngaski/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State; Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State; Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State; and Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State); and three state constituencies (Guma I State Constituency of Benue State; Chibok State Constituency of Borno State; and Chikun State Constituency of Kaduna State).
“As provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the personal particulars and final list of candidates have been published today in our state offices and the affected constituencies pursuant to the provision of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022. The list of candidates is also published on our website and social media platforms.
“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the personal particulars (Form EC9 and academic credentials) of the candidates.
“Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“For clarity, this publication only applies to the forthcoming by-elections as they are fresh elections for which political parties conducted primaries and nominated their candidates.
“For the rerun elections to be held on the same day, the list and personal particulars of candidates have been published before the 2023 general election.
“The rerun elections are conducted pursuant to the orders of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. They are not fresh elections open to new/disqualified candidates, which obviates the need to publish their personal particulars again.”
Also, five political parties have named their candidates for the Yobe East Senatorial by-election.
They are: African Democratic Congress (ADC) – Umar Kalli; All Progressives Congress (APC) – Mustapha Musa; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – Hussaini Auwalu; New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) – Muhammad Jawa Adamu; and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Kolomi Aji.
Also, a former member of the House of Representatives, Linus Okorie, has received INEC’s green light to participate in the Ebonyi South senatorial by-election.
This followed the publication of his name as the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the election.
Okorie represented Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency from 2011 to 2019.
He contested for the Senate seat under same party in last year’s general election but lost to Senator David Umahi of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Okorie will contest against seven other candidates of other parties, including Prof. Anthony Ani Okorie of APC, who is 58 years old like Okorie.
A former PDP State Chairman Silas Onu will fly the party’s flag for the senatorial by-election.
The two Okories hail from Onicha Local Government Area while Onu is from neighboring Ohaozara Local Government Area.
The only woman among the eight candidates is 46-year-old Stella Njoku of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC).
Other candidates for the election are: Eleje Ifeanyi, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), 68, Male; Udeogu Uche Samuel (APP), 63, Male; Idam Leo Ogbonna, NNPP, 39, Male; and Mba Christian Uchechukwu, Social Democratic Party (SDP), 40, Male.
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