Ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in Imo state, Governor Hope Uzodinma has replaced his Deputy, Prof. Placid Njoku with a female deputy governorship candidate, Mrs. Ekemaru Chinyere Ihuoma.
This was revealed in the final list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday where it was discovered that the governor submitted Mrs Ekomaru’s name as his running mate.
Mrs Ekomaru who hails from Umunoha, a community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state is the wife of a former governorship aspirant of the PDP in the state, Chukwuma Ekomaru, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
GistReel reports that Uzodinma had Mr Njoku as his running mate during the 9 March 2019 governorship election in the state and both were sworn in as governor and deputy governor of the state in January 2020 after the Supreme Court nullified the election of Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Mr Uzodinma, the winner of the governorship election.
According to INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye, the final list of candidates for the three off-cycle Governorship elections scheduled to hold in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo States on Saturday, November 11, was approved by INEC during its regular meeting held on Tuesday 6th June 2023.
The list includes the incumbent governor of Imo State and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hope Uzodinma; the incumbent governor of Bayelsa State and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Douye Diri; the APC candidate in Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva; the APC candidate in Kogi State, Ododo Ahmed Usman; the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Leke Abejide; and the PDP candidate of Kogi State, Dino Melaye.
Furthermore, Okoye stated that The decision is in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires the publication of the list not later than 150 days to election day i.e. Friday 9th June 2023 following the period for voluntary withdrawal and substitution of candidates by political parties under Section 31 of the Electoral Act 2022.
“The final list has been uploaded to the Commission’s website and social media platforms. Same will be published in our State and Local Government offices in the affected States on Thursday 8th June 2023 ahead of the statutory deadline of 9th June 2023.
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“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 Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the three elections, 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 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”.
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