The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the general public to deprecate the circulation that was widely reported on some social media platforms that the commission has released the final list of candidates for the 2023 general election on its website.
This press release was dated 9th January 2023 (Today) and was signed by Mr Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee. Mr Okoye said there was no new publication on the final list of the candidates for the forthcoming general election on the commission website, he urged the general public to therefore discountenance the story.
It was recalled that on 20th September 2022, the final list for the Presidential and National Assembly elections was published while on 4th October 2022, that of the Governorship and State Assembly was also published. This publication was in accordance with the provision of section 32 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Festus further stated in his statement that it cannot be possible for the final list of candidates to be published barely 46 days before the general election except for names published as a substitution for candidates nominated earlier in compliance with the court order. He employs all political parties, litigants and the public to be guided accordingly.
Read the full letter below:
The attention of the Commission has been drawn to reports widely circulated by a section of the media today, Monday 9th January 2023, that the final list of candidates was released on our website on Sunday 8th January 2023.
The Commission wishes to state categorically that no new publication of the final list of candidates was released as reported. The public should therefore discountenance the story.
For the record, the final list of candidates for the 2023 General Election was published at least 150 days before the day of election in compliance with the provision of Sec. 32 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022. Accordingly, the final list for the Presidential and National Assembly elections was published on 20th September 2022 while that of Governorship and State Assembly elections was published two weeks later on 4th October 2022. These are clearly indicated as item 8 on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election released by the Commission on 26th February 2022.
There cannot be a final list of candidates with just 46 days to the General Election except for the name published as substitution for candidates nominated earlier in compliance with the Court Order. Moreover, some of the candidates that allegedly made the new “final” list are still in Court and the matter is therefore subjudice.
Political Parties, litigants and the public should be guided accordingly.
Festus Okoye Esq.
National Commissioner & Chairman
Information and Voter Education Committee
Monday 9th January 2023