The frontrunners are Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is seeking a second term, and former governor Timipre Sylva.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday night released the final list of the governorship candidates of different political parties ahead of the November 11 election in Bayelsa.
A total of 16 parties made the list. They include A, AA, ADC, ADP, APC, APGA, APM, APP, BP, LP, NNPP, NRM, PDP, PRP, SDP and ZLP.
The frontrunners are Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is seeking a second term, and former governor Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who is hoping to return to the seat he left in 2012.
The list shows that only two parties — ADP and APP — presented women as governorship candidates.
Off-cycle governorship elections will hold in three states — Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo — on November 11.
A statement by the National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said the list which has been uploaded on the commission website will be published in the three state capital from Thursday.
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He, however, expressed concern over the ugly incident which occurred between two rival parties in Kogi State recently and appealed to political parties to go about their campaigns, which is expected to begin next week Wednesday, peacefully.
The statement said: “The list shows that all 18 political parties are fielding 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 candidates that in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the three elections, the campaign in 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 i.e. 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 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.”