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Romanus Ugwu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties participating in the September 19 Edo State governorship election that the window for withdrawal or substitution of the nominated candidates has elapsed.
In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the Commission said that according to Section 35 of the Electoral Act and the timetable and schedule of activities of the Commission, withdrawal and substitution of candidates for the election ended on July 13.
Entitled “Final list of candidates for Edo governorship election”, the statement reads:
‘INEC has in compliance with its timetable and schedule of activities and in accordance with Section 34 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) published the final list of candidates for the 2020 governorship election in Edo State by displaying it in the Commission’s offices in the State capital and the 18 Local Government Areas of Edo State. The list has also been uploaded on the Commission’s website.
‘By Section 35 of the Electoral Act and the timetable and schedule of activities of the Commission, the withdrawal and substitution of candidates for the Edo governorship election ended on July 13, 2020.
‘With the publication of the final list of candidates, no political party can withdraw or substitute any of the nominated candidates or tamper with the list and particulars of the candidates in a manner inconsistent with the intendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
‘We urge political parties to pay close attention to the timelines stipulated in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities of the Commission as well as the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.’
