The names of governorship candidates from Akwa Ibom and Ogun states were conspicuously absent when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the names of successful governorship candidates from the various states of the federations also those of the state House of Assembly candidates for the 2023 general elections.
According to the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, he said the list contains the names of candidates validly nominated by their parties at the close of primaries and periods set aside for withdrawal and substitution of candidates.
Among the candidates listed by the commission were the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege who will represent the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Delta State governorship election, and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Others are Babajide Sanwo-Olu (APC, Lagos), Olajide Adeniran (PDP, Lagos), Seyi Makinde (PDP, Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (APC, Lagos) and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (APC, Kwara).
The commission did not list any candidate for APC in Akwa Ibom State. Although Akpan Udofia who dumped the PDP for APC early this year won the May 27 election in the state, INEC rejected his nomination because its officials did not monitor the exercise.
Also not on the list are any of the candidates contesting the outcome of the primary election for PDP the commission in Ogun State.
This followed the ruling by Justice O.O. Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, which ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary in the state within 14 days.
The judge delivered the verdict while ruling on the application filed by three governorship aspirants in the state.
The trio of Taiwo Olabode Idris, Kehinde Akala and Alhaji Ayinde Monsuri are challenging the outcome of the May 25 primary which produced Ladi Adebutu as PDP governorship candidate in the state.
The statement read: “In summary, the 18 political parties have fielded 837 candidates and their running mates for the 28 governorship elections that fall due in 2023. For State Assembly elections, 10,231 candidates are vying for 993 State Assembly seats.”