Edo Guber: INEC Lifts Ban on Campaign, Publishes Final List of Candidates

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja 

Ahead of the Edo State governorship election scheduled to hold September 21, 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that political parties in the state are now permitted to start campaigning in public from Wednesday, April 24, 2024 and end at midnight on Thursday, September 19, 2024.

The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman,  Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, in a statement issued Monday also revealed that the commission has published the final list of candidates for the election.

He stressed that the commission has published the list of candidates following the initial primaries. 

The commission stated that in line with the provision of Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, some political parties conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates by the deadline of April 15, 2024. 

Olumekun further revealed that the Action Alliance (AA) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) replaced their governorship candidates and their running mates, while the African Action Congress (AAC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Boot Party (BP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) replaced the running mates of their candidates only. 

It said overall, 17 political parties are fielding candidates in the election, adding that 16 are male while one is female.

The commission added that the final list, which also gives the breakdown of the candidates by age, academic qualifications and disability, has been published at the commission’s office in Edo State and also uploaded on its website and social media platforms for public information. 

It noted: “With the publication of the final list of candidates for the Edo State Governorship Election, the next activity is electioneering campaign. 

“As provided by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, campaign by political parties in public shall commence not earlier than 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day. 

“Therefore, political parties are now permitted to start campaign in public from Wednesday 24th April 2024 and end at midnight on Thursday 19th September 2024 as indicated in items 8 and 12 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.

“As parties commence this critical phase of the election, the commission reminds candidates, agents and their supporters of the provision of the law and the commission’s guidelines governing such activity. 

“For emphasis, parties shall conduct their campaigns with civility and decorum devoid of inciting language, violence, voter inducement and other infractions mentioned in Sections 92 – 97 of the Electoral Act 2022.”