The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would in line with the timetable and schedule of activities for the Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections, publish the final list of nominated candidates on 17th October, 2019.
Reacting to questions from newsmen on Tuesday, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, stated that it was premature at this stage to insinuate that INEC has disqualified any political party.
He stated that the deadline for withdrawal by candidates or replacement of withdrawn candidates elapsed on Monday Sept 23rd, 2019.
He also said the last day for the submission of nomination forms by political parties is October 2nd, 2019.
Oyekanmi said, “According to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship Elections, INEC will publish the final list of nominated candidates on 17th October.
“However, the deadline for withdrawal by Candidates or replacement of withdrawn candidates elapsed yesterday 23rd Sept. Remember that the last day for the submission of nomination forms by political parties is 2nd October.
“Therefore, it is premature at this stage to insinuate that INEC has disqualified any political party.”
On the purported letter by the INEC’s secretary, informing some parties of the rejection of their governorship candidate anddeputy governorship candidates respectively, Oyekanmi said he was not aware of such letter.
According to him, if there was such a letter, it would have clearly stated the reasons for the rejection of the candidate, with reference(s) to the relevant section(s) of the extant laws adding that no party candidate would be rejected without valid reasons.
“If indeed you are in possession of a letter purportedly written by the Secretary to the commission (according to you because I am not aware of such) to a political party, informing the party that its candidate has been rejected, then the letter would have clearly stated the reasons, with reference(s) to the relevant section(s) of the extant laws.
“You cannot tell a political party that its nominated candidate has been rejected without valid reasons, if at all a letter was indeed written to that effect.”
