The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to disclose the personal particulars of candidates and their running mates contending in the Ondo State governorship election. The release is scheduled for Saturday, May 25, 2024.
Sam Olumekun, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, affirmed that the publication of candidates’ personal details is a consequential step following the conclusion of party primaries.
Olumekun clarified that seventeen political parties had adhered to the deadline by successfully submitting their candidates’ nomination forms for the Ondo State gubernatorial race before May 20, 2024. Notably, the dedicated portal for submissions automatically closed at 6:00 pm on the specified date.
This forthcoming action is in accordance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, delineated as item 4 on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.
INEC will prominently display copies of Form EC9, alongside all academic credentials and other pertinent documents submitted by each candidate. These displays will be accessible at the INEC state headquarters in Akure and the 18 local government offices across the state.
Olumekun urged Nigerians to meticulously examine the documents provided. He clarified that any aspirant who participated in their party primaries and harbors reasonable suspicions regarding the accuracy of information provided by a candidate or running mate, has the prerogative to challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court. This recourse is stipulated in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.
