News
We Didn’t Disqualify Parties, Candidates From Bayelsa, Kogi Polls – INEC
– The INEC has denied its disqualification of parties and candidates ahead of the governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states
– The commission’s spokesman, Festus Okoye, said INEC deals with political parties and not their candidates or individuals
– According to him, the commission has a responsibility to enforce provisions of the constitution
Ahead of the November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi states, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied summary disqualification of parties and candidates.
The INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr. Festus Okoye, said INEC deals with political parties and not their candidates or individuals.
He said the commission has a responsibility to enforce provisions of the constitution, as the period for the submission of personal particulars of candidates elapsed on September 9, 2019, a day that is unmovable and not subject to variations and waivers.
READ ALSO: Tacha Disqualified From #BBNaija
“The commission did not disqualify the candidate of the SPD in Kogi State.
“Her nomination was invalid by the invalidity of the nomination of the deputy governorship candidate of the SDP.
“The SDP will not be on the ballot in Bayelsa and Kogi states for the November 16, 2019 governorship election in both states,” Okoye said.
He said the commission in a letter dated September 13, 2019, notified the concerned political parties of the invalidity of their nominations, with six of the nominated governorship and/or deputy governorship candidates affected in Bayelsa State, while there were eight such nominees in Kogi State.
“Some of the affected parties have written the commission admitting their error and requesting to submit new nominees to replace the under-aged ones.
PAY ATTENTION: Like our Facebook page to stay connected to u
“However, this was after the deadline for submission of nominations on September 9, 2019. As such, the commission could not accept any fresh nominations.
“In like manner, since the parties did not submit valid nominations before the deadline, they cannot substitute the candidates on the grounds of death or voluntary withdrawal, in accordance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which assumes the prior existence of valid nominations,” he said.
Nigerians speak on the recent attack launched on them by South Africa Nationalities. Ekohotblog.com TV:
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at [email protected]. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
