INEC releases final list of presidential, Senate, Reps’ candidates Sept 20, by Yakubu

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Thursday, said that it plans to publish the final list of candidates for Presidential, Senate and House of Representatives seats on Sept. 20 ahead of 2023 poll.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this in Abuja at the ”Expert Meeting on Conducting Nigeria’s 2023 General Elections in Volatile Security Environment.

At the event organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in conjunction with INEC, Yakubu said that the publication of the final list was in line with Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities released by the commission.

According to him, “This will be followed on Oct. 4 by the publication of the final list of candidates for state elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly).

”Campaign in public by political parties will officially commence on Sept. 28 as provided for by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

”As campaigns commence, we appeal to all political parties and candidates to focus on issue-based campaigns.

“This is the best way to complement our efforts to ensure transparent elections in which only the votes cast by citizens determine the winner,” he said.

The INEC Chairman explained that 

activities for the 2023 General Elections would enter critical stages this month from the next 19 days onward.

His words, “The commission welcomes this initiative and as Co-Chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), there is no doubt that the security agencies also welcome ideas and citizens’ support towards peaceful elections,” he said.

The Director, CDD, Ms Idayat Hassan, said that the meeting being held against the background of security challenges plaguing the country.