Politics
By Anthony Anthony
THE Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says that it will be publishing the list of candidates for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections in the states.
Speaking at the expert meeting on election logistics for 2023 general elections, organized with partnership and support from Action Aid Nigeria on Tuesday, October 4, 2022, in Lagos, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said that the list would be published in all INEC offices nationwide and uploaded to the Commission’s website as required by law, including the 10,240 candidates, who are vying for 993 seats for State Assembly constituencies, and governors contesting for offices in 28 States of the Federation.
According to the chairman, 18 political parties have nominated a total of 837 candidates and their running mates.
Recall that two weeks ago, INEC published the final list of candidates for national elections, including Presidential, Senatorial and House of Representatives.
The meeting, which is coming just 143 days to the 2023 General Elections, is to improve and fine-tune electoral logistics and election administration in general.
Yakubu also expressed the Commission’s determination to build on the successes recorded in the recent off-cycle elections in Ekiti and Osun States to improve on the delivery of election materials and the early commencement of polls.
“The Commission is determined to continuously improve on our processes and procedures in order to give Nigerians a pleasant experience on election day.
“In achieving this goal, we need the support and partnership of all stakeholders. By your presence at this meeting, you have demonstrated your willingness to partner with the Commission and we are encouraged by such demonstration of support and commitment to the success of the electoral process as we continue to make steady progress in the implementation of our plans. So far, the Commission has successfully implemented 9 out of 14 activities listed in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Elections.
“In this regard, we welcome the collaboration with Action Aid Nigeria and the development partners in organising this important meeting that has brought all the major players together to deliberate on this critical issue.
“Let me join our Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Lagos State to welcome you once again to this very important meeting. Some of you here may recall that in 2018, the Commission organised a similar meeting with critical stakeholders ahead of the 2019 General Elections.
“ Logisticians, the security agencies, other agencies responsible for facilitating the clearance of election materials at entry ports such as the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, aviation agencies, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics, training institutions such as the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, NITT, the private sector such as banks and manufacturers, trade unions, civil society organisations and our development partners. The aim of the meeting was to review the perennial challenges associated with electoral logistics and how to address them.” he added.
A.I
Tags: Action Aid Nigeria INEC Prof. Mahmood Yakubu
