the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will publish the personal details of candidates nominated by their political parties for the 2023 Governor and State Assembly elections in all constituencies across the country on Friday.
The President of the INEC Commission, Mahmoud Yakubustated this at the swearing-in of a new Resident Electoral Commission (REC), Hale Longpet, on Thursday at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Mr. Yakubu urged Nigerians to examine the details and seek judicial redress for any observed violations of the law.
“As we continue to seriously prepare for the 2023 General Elections, the Commission will publish tomorrow, Friday, July 22, the personal data of the candidates nominated by their political parties for the Governor and State Assembly elections in all electoral districts throughout the country. , as required by law.
“I call on all Nigerians (citizens and aspirants) to take the opportunity to examine the details of the candidates and seek judicial redress for any observed violation of the law as provided in Section 29 of the Election Act 2022 “, said.
The president of the INEC denounced the large number of pre-election litigation cases in the country and said that so far, the INEC has joined as a defendant in 334 cases on 2023 pre-election matters throughout the country.
“The Commission has already been inundated by numerous pre-electoral cases derived from the holding of congresses and primaries by political parties for the 2023 General Elections.
“So far, 334 pre-election cases have been filed in various rooms of the Federal High Court throughout the country by candidates challenging the nomination of candidates or their exclusion from the list presented to the Commission.
“Although these are purely intra-party issues, the Commission has joined in all these cases.
“With the release of the personal data of gubernatorial, lieutenant governor and state assembly election candidates tomorrow, we expect the number of cases to increase further,” Yakubu said.
He said that, unfortunately, the issue of internal democracy in political parties remained a sore point in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He promised that INEC would continue to interact with political parties while standing firm against any transgression by strictly enforcing the provisions of the law and existing regulations and guidelines.
(YAYA)