INEC to disqualify Bayelsa, Kogi candidates over age limit – TheNigerialawyer

The Independent National Electoral Commission will disqualify
some of the governorship and deputy-governorship candidates in the
November 16 elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States.

Consequently, the commission has promised that it will soon
notify the concerned parties and subsequently consider further
action.

INEC National Commissioner and chairman of its Information and
Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, in a statement on
Thursday, said the personal particulars of candidates nominated by
political parties for the elections would be published on Friday
(today).

The publication, according to INEC, is in accordance with the
Electoral Act and in line with the timetable and schedule of
activities for the governorship exercise.

Okoye said, “The personal particulars of the nominees will be
published on the notice boards of our offices in Yenagoa and
Lokoja. As required by law, the commission monitored the primaries
of the political parties and the list of candidates who emerged has
since been published on our website and other platforms.

“From our records, 64 political parties conducted primaries in
Bayelsa State as against 59 in Kogi State. Out of these, 52
political parties for Bayelsa and 49 for Kogi, respectively,
submitted the list of candidates and their personal particulars at
the close of nomination at 6pm on Monday, September 9, 2019.

“While some of the political parties that conducted primaries
did not submit any list and personal particulars of candidates, a
few failed to submit within the time limit prescribed by the
commission.”

The INEC commissioner said, out of the 101 nominees for the two
states, 91 were male, representing 90 per cent, while 10 were
female, representing 10 per cent of all the nominees.

According to him, of the 52 nominees for Bayelsa, six are female
and 46 are male, while in Kogi State, four are female and 45 are
male.

He added, “The commission has observed from a preliminary review
of the list and personal particulars submitted by the political
parties that some of the governorship and deputy-governorship
candidates are below the minimum age prescribed by the constitution
for these positions.

“The commission will notify the concerned parties soon and
subsequently consider further action.

“As we continue to prepare for the Bayelsa and Kogi governorship
elections scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2019, the commission
once more reminds the political parties of the timelines in the
timetable and schedule of activities and requests strict compliance
with them.”

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