©️ Zaratti Kwuri
◼️ The frontline contenders to occupy Douglas House, IMO state are Chief Uche Ben Odunzeh of NNPP, incumbent Governor Sen. Hope Uzodinma of the APC, who is seeking second term re-election, and Sen. Athan Nneji Achonu of the Labour Party.
📷 Photo credit: Chief Uche Ben Odunzeh of New Nigeria People’s Party
◼️ The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of gubernatorial candidates and their deputies of different political parties ahead of the November 11 election in IMO state.
◼️ The frontline contenders to occupy Douglas House IMO state are Chief Uche Ben Odunzeh of NNPP, incumbent Governor Sen. Hope Uzodinma of the APC, who is seeking second term reelection to complete eight years, and Sen. Athan Nneji Achonu of the Labour Party.
◼️ Off-cycle gubernatorial elections are billed to hold in three states of the federation – Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi – on November 11, 2023. A total of 17 political parties made the contestants list for Imo state. They include A, AA, AAC, ADC, ADP, APC, APGA, APM, APP,BP, LP, NNPP, NRM, PDP, SDP, YPP and ZLP.
◼️ Surprisingly, none of the political parties contesting elections in Imo state presented a female governship candidate.
◼️ A statement by the National Commissioner of Information and Voter Education, Barr. Festus Okoye said the list has been uploaded on the commission’s website and published in the three states electoral commission’s capital.
◼️ However, the electoral commissioner expressed deep concerns over the ugly incident which recently happened between two rival political parties in Kogi states and appealed to political parties to tow the line of peace as they go about their campaigns, expected to begin next week.
◼️ The statement reads, “The list shows that all 18 political parties are fielding (governorship) candidates in Kogi state, 17 in Imo state and 16 in Bayelsa state. The list also shows that two political parties are fielding female candidates in Bayelsa state, one in Kogi state and none in Imo state.
“The Commission wishes to remind political parties and their candidates that in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the three elections, their campaigns in the public officially commences on Wednesday 14th June, 2023 in line with Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and ends on 9th November, 2023, that is, 24 hours prior to election day.
“Regrettably, the ugly incident last week involving the convoys of two political actors in Kogi state resulting in the destruction of vehicles and other properties ahead of the commencement of the campaign is worrisome.
“We urge parties and their candidates to conduct their political activities with civility and decorum as peaceful electioneering heralds a peaceful election. Political parties and candidates have a responsibility to de-escalate tension ahead of the elections.”
