The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and the former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Godswill Akpabio would know if they will be candidates of their party at senatorial level for the 2023 general election or not, when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would make public the names of successful candidates for the election between September 20 and October 4, 2022
INEC had disclosed the date for releasing the final lists of presidential and governorship candidates.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, released the dates on Thursday during a meeting organized by the Centre for Democracy and Development in Abuja with the theme, “Conducting Nigeria’s 2023 Elections in Volatile Security Environment,” in Abuja.
Professor Yakubu gave the breakdown of activities leading up to the conduct of the 2023 elections, noting that while the final list of the presidential candidates will be out on September 20, that of governorship hopefuls will be released on October 4.
The INEC boss asked political parties and their candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns. He further explained that the commission is collaborating with security agencies to ensure a peaceful election.
Ahmed Lawan, David Umahi, and Godswill Akpabio had chosen to pick Senate tickets for Yobe North, Ebonyi South and Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial Districts respectively, after losing out at the presidential primaries of the APC.
The move stirred controversy since most Senate primaries were conducted before the presidential primary.
lso, in its earlier publication, INEC had refused to publish name of any candidate for the party in the affected senatorial districts.
Yakubu also informed all political parties and candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns.
“This is the best way to complement our efforts to ensure transparent elections in which only the votes cast by citizens determine the winner,” he said.
He said there was still time to address the security concerns facing the country ahead of the election.
Earlier, the Director, CDD, Idayat Hassan, said the event was important, especially since the 2023 elections would be the seventh consecutive election since the return to democracy in 1999 and also being the second time Nigeria is transitioning from one government to another government.
On his part, the Development Director, FCDO, Dr. Chris Pycroft, said the 2023 elections was critical and that security is a top priority in the relationship between British and Nigerian governments.