The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) took a significant step towards transparency and accountability by publishing the forms and particulars of candidates from various political parties participating in the upcoming Edo State governorship election.
The particulars of candidates were prominently displayed at the INEC office in Aduwawa, Benin, as well as in all 18 local government offices across the state.
Timidi Wariowei, the Head of Voters Education and Publicity for the state INEC, highlighted that this action aligns with electoral laws, enabling parties and the public to access and review the details of the candidates and their running mates.
Out of the 18 parties that conducted primaries, 17 successfully met the deadline to upload their candidates’ particulars onto the INEC portal, which closed promptly at 6:00 PM on Sunday, March 24.
With the publication of the list, parties now have until April 15 to make any necessary withdrawals or substitutions of their candidates.
The final submission deadline for the list of candidates is set for April 20.
Further steps in the electoral process include the publication of the final list of candidates by INEC on April 23, followed by the official commencement of campaign activities the next day.
The Edo governorship election is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024, marking a pivotal moment in the democratic process for the state.