From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has confirmed that 17 political parties have met the Monday deadline to successfully upload their candidates’ nomination forms for the Ondo State governorship election.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, made the disclosure in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen on Thursday.
The statement noted that the personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their running mates uploaded to the dedicated portal which has automatically shut down on Monday will be published on Saturday 25th May 2024.
The commission further disclpsed that it shall publish the personal particulars by displaying copies of Form EC9 along with all academic credentials and other documents submitted by each candidate at its State Headquaters in Akure and the 18 Local Government offices across the State.
The statement read: “Following the conclusion of party primaries, 17 political parties have uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms for the Ondo State governorship election by the deadline of 6.00pm on Monday 20th May 2024 when the dedicated portal automatically shut down.
“The personal particulars of the governorship candidates and their running mates will be published on Saturday 25th May 2024, one week from the last date for the submission of nominations as provided in Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022 and listed as item 4 on the timetable and schedule of activities for the election.
“The commission shall publish the personal particulars by displaying copies of Form EC9 along with all academic credentials and other documents submitted by each candidate at our State Headquaters in Akure and the 18 Local Government offices across the State.
“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents. Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by a candidate or running mate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The Ondo State Governorship Election is scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2024,” the statement read.