Independent National Electoral commission (INEC) has announced that 17 political parties have submitted the names of their candidates for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for October 10.
The commission’s spokesperson, Festus Okoye made this known an INEC meeting on Tuesday.
The spokesman revealed that the commission during the meeting deliberated on a number of issues which include the Nasarawa Central State Constituency Election scheduled for August 8, 2020.
The commission also discussed about the preparations for the Edo Governorship Election holding on September 19, 2020 and the conduct of party primaries for the Ondo State Governorship Election scheduled to hold on October 10, 2020.
Okoye said the list and credentials of the 17 candidates for Ondo election would be uploaded on its website and published in its state office in Akure on Friday, July 31.
He explained that this is in compliance with section 31(3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), adding that the list would also be published on the commission’s social media platforms on the same day.
The spokesman noted;
Seventeen out of the 18 registered political parties gave the commission the requisite statutory notice of their intention to conduct primaries and they conducted primaries for the purpose of nominating candidates for the governorship election.
He added;
By section 31 (5) & (6) of the Electoral Act, a person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given in the affidavit or any of the documents submitted by any of the candidates is false, may file a suit in Court seeking a declaration that such information is false.
Okoye stressed;
If the Court determines that the information is false, the Court shall issue an Order disqualifying the candidate from contesting the election.
The commission urged members of the public to take an active part in the vetting of the list and particulars of nominated candidates to enhance transparency in the party nomination processes.
