Moses Ofodeme
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has stated that publication of list of candidates for the 2023 general elections were concluded last year.
According to the Commission, the final list of candidates for the 2023 General Election was published at least 150 days before the day of election in compliance with the provision of Sec. 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Festus Okoye, National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, of the Commission, while clarifying the issue said the final list for Presidential and National Assembly elections was published on 20th September 2022 while that of Governorship and State Assembly elections was published two weeks later on 4th October 2022.
” These are clearly indicated as item 8 on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election released by the Commission on 26th February 2022.
“There cannot be a final list of candidates with just 46 days to the General Election except for names published as substitutions for candidates nominated earlier in compliance with Court Order. Moreover, some of the candidates that allegedly made the new “final” list are still in Court and the matter is therefore subjudice.” Okoye said.
He called on political parties, litigants and the public to be guided accordingly and disregard
reports that is being widely circulated by a section of the media today, Monday 9th January 2023, that the final list of candidates was released on our website on Sunday 8th January 2023.
The Commission stated categorically that no new publication of the final list of candidates was released as reported, thus the public should therefore discountenance the story.