INEC releases final list of candidates for Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi governorship polls

• Uzondima, Melaye, Diri make list

The Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the November 11 governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states. The approval of the list followed a meeting held by the Commission on Tuesday in Abuja.

Bayelsa and Imo governors, Douye Diri and Hope Uzodinma, made the final list of candidates for the off-circle polls in the two states.

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipreye Silva and National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, as well as Senator Dino Melaye, also made the final list in their respective states of Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi.

According to a statement by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, all 18 political parties nominated candidates in Kogi, 17 in Bayelsa, and 16 in Imo.

Two political parties are also fielding female candidates in Bayelsa, one in Kogi and none in Imo.
Okoye said the final list has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

According to him, same will be published in the commission’s state and local government offices in the affected states on Thursday, June 8, 2023, ahead of the statutory deadline of June 9, 2023.

Okoye also reacted to last week’s incident in Kogi, saying it involved the convoys of two political actors, resulting in the destruction of vehicles and other properties.

Describing the incident as worrisome, Okoye called on parties and candidates to conduct their political activities with civility and decorum as peaceful electioneering heralds a peaceful election