By Ngozi Onyeakusi— The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for Presidential, Senate, and House of Representatives seats ahead of the 2023 general election.

Among the candidates cleared by INEC include the presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu; Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP); among others.
The electoral umpire said all the 18 political parties fielded candidates and their running mates for the 2023 presidential election, adding that 1,101 candidates are vying for 109 senatorial seats.

But Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, was omitted as the APC does not have any candidate for Yobe North Senatorial district while the name of former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, was published as the APC candidate for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District.

A further breakdown of the list showed that 1,101 candidates are contesting the 109 Senatorial seats, while 3,122 candidates are vying for the 469 House of Representatives seats.

Among the candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections, were 3,875, made up of 35 for presidential and vice presidential, 1,008 for Senate and 2,832 for House of Representatives. Similarly, 381 females comprising one for Presidential, 92 for Senate, and 288 for House of Representatives are contesting.

Eleven Persons with Disability (PWDs) are also contesting.

In terms of gender distribution, 3,875 candidates are male, made up of 35 for Presidential and Vice Presidential, 1,008 for Senate and 2,832 for House of Representatives. Similarly, 381 females comprising 1 for Presidential, 92 for Senate, and 288 for House of Representatives are contesting. There are also 11 Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the race”.

According to the statement, “at its regular weekly meeting held today Tuesday 20th September 2022, the Commission approved the final list of candidates for national elections (Presidential, Senatorial and Federal Constituencies) pursuant to section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and item 8 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.

“The publication of the full names and addresses of all nominated candidates follows the political parties’ conduct of primaries and completion of the nomination exercise. Nigerians may recall that at end of the process, the personal particulars of all nominated candidates were displayed in their constituencies nationwide as provided by section 29(3) of the Electoral Act.

“Subsequently, validly nominated candidates had the opportunity to voluntarily withdraw their candidature by notice in writing and personally deliver such notice to the political party that nominated them for the election.

“Thereafter, political parties substituted such candidates under section 31 of the Electoral Act for which the last day was 15th July 2022 for national elections and 12th August 2022 for State elections as clearly provided in item 6 of the Commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities. Thereafter, no withdrawal or substitution of candidates is allowed except in the event of death as provided in section 34(1) of the Electoral Act or pursuant to an order of a Court of competent jurisdiction”.

It added: “The list published today contains the names of candidates validly nominated for national elections at the close of party primaries and the period earmarked for withdrawal and substitution of candidates. The final list of candidates for State elections (Governorship and State Constituencies) will be published on 4th October 2022 as already indicated on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.

“We note the fact that not all the political parties conducted primaries in all the constituencies, submitted the particulars of candidates that emerged from valid primaries or substituted their candidates after fresh primaries within 14 days as provided in section 33 of the Electoral Act.

“This has led to numerous litigations, some of which are ongoing. Where the Commission was served with Court orders by aggrieved aspirants or candidates before the publication of this list, these have been indicated under the remark column.

“The list for specific constituencies is published in each State where they are located while the comprehensive nationwide list has been uploaded to the Commission’s website.

“We appeal to all political parties to channel any observations on the list of candidates to the Commission and such must be signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the political party and supported with an affidavit as provided in section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022”.