The final list of candidates for the Ekiti governorship election has been released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Naija News reports that the country’s electoral agency had fixed June 18, 2022, for the governorship election in the South West state.
In a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Festus Okoye, INEC said it released the full list of candidates for the election after it had published their personal information last month.
The INEC spokesman said the final list is published in the agency’s State and Local Government offices in Ekiti as well as its website and social media platforms.
Okoye added that the agency complied with the Electoral Act 2022 and the constitution by releasing the list of the contenders for the much-anticipated event.
He said Olabisi Kolawole is the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Kolapo Olugbenga Kolade as his Deputy, while Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Afuye Monisade as his running mate.
Okoye said any party that observes that the name of its candidate is missing from the list should send a letter to the commission signed by its National Chairman and Secretary, supported with an affidavit not later than 90 days to 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 grounds 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.”
The PDP would be hoping to regain the state which it lost to the ruling APC after the former governor, Ayodele Fayose ended its tenure.
The Ekiti State chapter of the APC on its part would hope to retain power as Kayode Fayemi’s tenure ends soon.
