Alliance with ADC gives LP 230,917 polling agents
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Labour Party (LP) has shot to the top of list of parties with polling agents as a result of its alliance with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) announced on Monday.
ADC’s 96,043 polling agents combine with 134,874 for LP to give LP a total 230,917 agents to monitor the presidential and National Assembly (NASS) elections on 25 February and the governorship and state Assembly elections on 11 March.
That number is greater than those of the other major contenders – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 176,588; All Progressives Congress (APC) 176,233; and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) 176,200.
The original figures were released on Monday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), coinciding with the announcement of the alliance between the LP and ADC, which endorsed LP presidential candidate Peter Obi for the Villa.
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Grand coalition for LP
The endorsement came on the heels of a grand coalition for the Obi/Datti ticket, according to Vanguard.
The coalition includes Nigeria Mothers for Good Governance, Fulani United, Nigeria Artisans, League of Imams, Nigeria Traders, Yoruba United, Mega Political Coalition, Kanuris United, Almalgamated Coalitions, CEG Groups and Nigeria Legions United.
The group seeks to create a formidable force for the Obi/Datti ticket.
The ADC endorsement ceremony, held at the River Plate Gardens in Abuja, was attended by, among others, ADC National Chairman, Raphael Nwosu; BoT Chairman Mani Ibrahim Ahmed; and LP chieftain Pat Utomi, according to an LP Twitter post, as reported by The PUNCH.
INEC announces 1.5m polling unit agents
The INEC announced on Monday a total 1,574,301 polling unit agents were nominated by the 18 registered political parties for the election, distributed as follows:
- PDP – 176,588
- APC – 176,233
- NNPP – 176,200
- LP – 134,874
The INEC said all the political parties also nominated a total 68,057 collation agents and 27 agents for the National Collation Centre (NCC).
There are 176,846 polling units but election would only hold in 176,606 because 240 polling units have no registered voters, according to INEC, per Vanguard.
Kano has the highest number of party polling unit agents (145,393) from three parties (APC, PDP, and NNPP), followed by Lagos (98,646), and Rivers (79,795).
