The frontrunners are Governor Hope Uzodimma of the APC, who is seeking a second term, Samuel Anyanwu of the PDP, and Nneji Achonu of the Labour Party (LP).
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 Imo State.
A total of 17 parties made the list. They include A, AA, AAC, ADC, ADP, APC, APGA, APM, APP, BP, LP, NNPP, NRM, PDP, SDP, YPP and ZLP.
The frontrunners are Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is seeking a second term, Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Nneji Achonu of the Labour Party (LP).
None of the parties presented a female governorship candidate.
Off-cycle governorship elections will hold in three states — Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo — on November 11.
READ ALSO:
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.
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.”