By Godfrey AKON
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has released the amended list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa and Imo states governorship elections in compliance with court orders.
INEC’s amended list released on Tuesday, leaves the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayesla State without a candidate while the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, and its governorship candidate in Imo State, Uchechukwu Ishiodu, were included in the list.
The commission had published the final list of candidates for 2023 Bayelsa and Imo states governorship Election on 9th June, 2023 in accordance with the provision of section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election.
But it was served with an order of court in respect of the nomination of candidate of the APC, Chief Timipre Sylva, for the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election and the inclusion of the PRP and its candidate on the list of candidates for the 2023 Imo state governorship election.
“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission is bound to enforce the Orders of Court on nomination of candidates by political parties in the State.
“The Amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the Orders of Court served on the Commission,” INEC said.
Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has raised concerns over the spate of court court orders and judgments in respect of the nomination, substitution, or disqualification of candidates for the November 11th governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states.
Yakubu, who spoke at a meeting with political parties ahead of the exercise, noted that the court orders and judgments are coming too close to the election after all the sensitive materials have been printed.
“The reprinting of the materials in compliance with court orders within a short period of time is not only expensive but the management of the process very challenging.
“Although the Commission has already published the final list of candidates for the three States, four recent court orders have compelled us to review the list. These changes have been reflected in the updated list of parties and candidates on our website. This decision is without prejudice to any pending appeal by the affected candidates or their political parties.
“We are at the concluding stages of our preparations. This is the first time that the Commission will be conducting three off-cycle Governorship Elections simultaneously across different geo-political zones.
“This is made possible by the coincidence of the end of tenure of the current holders of the offices which fall within the constitutional timeframe of not earlier than 150 days or later than 30 days before the expiration of their terms of office as enshrined in Section 178(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council, IPAC, Engr. Yagbagi Sani, called on INEC to demonstrate impartiality, and transparency to reaffirm citizens’ trust and confidence ahead of the Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi States’ elections.
“To reaffirm citizens’ confidence, INEC must continue to demonstrate impartiality, transparency, and a commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections. This is not only a moral imperative but a necessary step towards preserving the integrity of our democratic system,” Sani said
He acknowledged INEC’s efforts towards preparations for the off-cycle governorship elections despite the challenges the commission might be facing while stressing the need for the commission to put in its best to be done to ensure that the elections are free, fair, credible, hitch-free, and meet the provisions of the law