INEC Releases Final List Of Candidates For Ekiti Guber

The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced the final list of candidates for the gubernatorial race in Ekiti (INEC).

INEC has set June 18, 2022, as the date for the governorship election in the South West state.

INEC’s spokesperson, Festus Okoye, said in a statement on Monday that it has issued the entire list of candidates for the poll after publishing their personal information last month.

The final list is available at INEC’s State and Local Government offices in Ekiti, as well as on the agency’s website and social media channels, according to an INEC spokeswoman.

By publishing the list of competitors for the much-anticipated event, the agency conformed with the Electoral Act 2022 and the constitution, according to Okoye.

He stated the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) gubernatorial candidate is Olabisi Kolawole, with Kolapo Olugbenga Kolade as his deputy, and the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) nominee is Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji, with Afuye Monisade as his running partner.

Any party whose candidate’s name is absent from the list, according to Okoye, shall write a letter to the commission signed by its National Chairman and Secretary and accompanied by an affidavit no later than 90 days before the election.

He said:

“On Wednesday 16th February 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the personal particulars and list of candidates (Form EC9) for the Ekiti State Governorship election in our State and Local Government offices as required by law.

“In compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission hereby publishes the final list of candidates for the election following the close of nominations by political parties.

“The Commission wishes to remind political parties that under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, any party that observes that the name of its candidate is missing from the list “shall notify the Commission in writing, signed by its National Chairman and Secretary, supported with an affidavit not later than 90 days to the election”.

“Furthermore, the attention of parties is drawn to Section 32(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides that failure to notify the Commission “shall not be ground to invalidate the election.

“The final list is published in our State and Local Government offices in Ekiti State as well as our website and social media platforms for public information as required by law.

“Political parties are enjoined to note the provision of the law for compliance.”

After previous governor Ayodele Fayose’s term expired, the PDP hoped to reclaim the state, which it had lost to the ruling APC.

The APC’s Ekiti State branch, for its part, is hoping to keep power as Kayode Fayemi’s term expires soon.