2023: List Of Ebonyi Gubernatorial Candidates Released By INEC

The list of candidates nominated by political parties for the 2023 governorship race in Ebonyi has been released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the list was displayed on Tuesday and that Francis Nwifuru, the Speaker of the Ebonyi House of Assembly and a candidate of the APC, and Prof. Bernard Odoh, a former Secretary to State Government (SSG) of APGA) are included in the list.

The commission also cleared Chief Ifeanyichukwuma Odii of PDP,  Chief Edward Nkwegu, LP and Chukwuma Nwandugo of the Action Alliance (AA).

Other candidates shortlisted include Dr Sunday Opoke for the Young People’s Party (YPP) and Anthony Usulor of the Nigerian Renaissance Movement (NRM).

Announcing the release to journalists in Abakiliki, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr Joseph Chukwu disclosed that the display is in line with Section 32 (1) of the Electoral Act.

“The law empowers the commission to display the final list of the authentic candidates for any election 150 days to the Election Day", he said.

Chukwu revealed that 13 political parties fielded governorship candidates and their running mates for the March 2023 gubernatorial election in Ebonyi.

He added that 15 political parties also fielded 246 candidates for the House of Assembly Election and added that campaigns for the governorship and state assembly elections would begin on October 12.

“246 candidates across political parties will contest for seats in the 24 state assembly constituencies in Ebonyi.

“We wish to warn that campaigns for the governorship and house of assembly elections have not started; the campaigns will commence on Oct .12 as provided for in the 2022 electoral law.

“It’s an offence for political parties or their candidates to embark on campaigns outside the INEC-approved timetable of activities."