The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates expected to participate in the November 16 governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. The two lists were signed by the INEC Secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
According to the names published by the commission, there are 23 governorship candidates and their deputies contesting elections in Kogi, while in Bayelsa, there are 45 governorship candidates with their deputies for the elections.
The prominent names in the list for Kogi include incumbent governor Yahaya Bello and Onoja Edward David as his running mate under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while the candidate for the PDP is Musa Wada with Samuel Bamidele as his running mate.
For the Bayelsa, the prominent names are the APC candidate, Lyon David, and his running mate, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienuo, as well as Diri Duoye of the PDP who has Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo as running mate.
In the final breakdown, 23 candidates/parties are contesting for the Kogi’s number one seat. Of the 23, 21 are males while two are female. The oldest contestant is 69 years while the youngest is 35. INEC has also said it will not extend the September 30 deadline for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the two states.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, told reporters that the commission has no reason to extend the deadline. He said enough time had been given to owners of uncollected cards to do so, adding that the commission adopted measures to reach them for collection.
According to him, INEC would close the collection to ascertain the number of cards to be used during the November 16 elections in the two states. He added that the commission needed time to continue with its planning and other stages of the elections in both states.
“When the collection is over, we will recall all uncollected PVCs and make a return to INEC state headquarters. Then the final figure of what was collected during the period and the uncollected will be made available to all political parties contesting these elections,’’ he said.
