INEC National Commissioner and chairman (Information and Voter Education Committee), Festus Okoye, made the announcement in a statement issued on Sunday titled, ‘Redeployment of five RECs and four Directors.’

He said, “In the new postings, the REC, Osun State, Olusegun Agbaje, has been redeployed to Ogun State. At the same time, his counterpart in Ogun State, Prof. Abdulganiyu Olayinka Raji, will take charge as REC, Osun State. In the same vein, the REC, Bayelsa State, Dr Cyril Omorogbe, will take up his new role as the REC for Cross River State, while Dr Emmanuel Alex Hart proceeds to Bayelsa State as the REC from his former office in Cross River State. The REC, Zamfara State, Dr Asmau Sani Maikudi, has also been redeployed to Kaduna State. Similarly, the Director (Voter Education and Publicity), Nick Dazang, has proceeded on terminal leave. Consequently, Victor Ayodele Aluko has been reassigned from Director (Administration) to Voter Education and Publicity as Director, while Mikah Thabbal Lakumna is redeployed to Administration from his erstwhile position as Director (Security). Nduh Lebari Samson moves from the office of the Secretary to the Commission to Director (Security). Yakubu Mohammed Duku, Director in the Electoral Operations Department, proceeds to Niger State as the substantive Administrative Secretary. The handing/taking over activities should be completed by Monday, September 13 2021. The redeployments are part of the commission’s routine administrative postings.”

INEC spokesman, Festus Okoye who made the announcement said the 15 bye-elections was postponed due to the current state of things in the country.

Okoye said “This decision is in compliance with Section 26 (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), which gives the Commission the power to postpone an election if there is reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace is likely to occur if the election is proceeded with on that date, or that it is impossible to conduct the elections as a result of natural disasters or other emergencies. The Commission will continue to monitor the situation in all the States and Constituencies, consult with relevant Stakeholders and meet again in two weeks to review the situation and decide on a feasible date for the elections. The Commission appeals for calm and understanding of the stakeholders and voters in the States where elections were scheduled. The safety of the voters, election officials and other stakeholders are paramount to the Commission in conducting elections.”

Recall that the Court of Appeal in its judgement on Monday, August 10, held that INEC ignored due process in exercising its powers under Section 225(a) of the Constitution (as amended).

However, the electoral umpire’s spokesperson, Festus Okoye who pointed out that same court had upheld and validated the power of INEC to deregister the parties in an appeal filed by the National Unity Party two weeks ago, affirmed that they will be seeking the verdict of the supreme court on the two conflicting judgements.

Okoye said “The Commission is faced with two conflicting judgements from the Court of Appeal; one affirming the powers of the Commission to deregister political parties and the other set aside the deregistration of ACD & 22 others.  Faced with two conflicting judgements from the same Court, the Commission is not in a position to pick and choose which one of them to obey. Consequently, the Commission will approach the Supreme Court for a final resolution of the issues raised in the two conflicting judgements.”

The commission’s spokesperson, Festus Okoye said the list and credentials of the 17 candidates would be uploaded on its website and published in its state office in Akure on Friday, July 31.

Members of the public who have reasonable grounds to believe that any information given in the affidavit or any of the documents submitted by any of the candidates is false to have been asked to seek redress in court.

Okoye said “Seventeen out of the 18 registered political parties gave the commission the requisite statutory notice of their intention to conduct primaries and they conducted primaries for the purpose of nominating candidates for the governorship election. By section 31 (5) & (6) of the Electoral Act, a person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given in the affidavit or any of the documents submitted by any of the candidates is false may file a suit in court seeking a declaration that such information is false. If the Court determines that the information is false, the Court shall issue an Order disqualifying the candidate from contesting the election.”

There are 14 candidates on the list and they include 13 males and one female.  Festus Okoye, INEC national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee encouraged members of the public to go through the list and also challenge any information they believe is false in any of the affidavit or any document submitted by the candidates.

Okoye said “At the close of nominations at 6 pm on June 29, 2020, 14 political parties used the dedicated online portal of the commission to submit the list of candidates that emerged from their primaries. The provisional list of the candidates disaggregated on the basis of name, gender, age and qualification has been uploaded on our website and social media platforms. Furthermore, and as required by law, the particulars of the nominated candidates will be published in the Edo State office of the commission and simultaneously uploaded on our website Thursday, July 2, 2020. The final list of duly nominated candidates will be published on August 13, 2020, after withdrawals by candidates and substitution by their political parties.”

Below is the list:

1. AA – Obhafuoso Paul, E   — Governor; Sunday Johnbull  —       Deputy Governor
2. ADC – Akhigbe B Ehiabhi — Governor; Mabel Oboh   —  Deputy Governor

3. ADP- Ibio L Emmanuel    — Governor; Demond Imasuen —     Deputy Governor
4. APC- Osagie Andrew Ize-Iyamu—Governor; Audu Ganiyu —     Deputy Governor
5. APGA- Lucky Osagie Idehen—Governor;      Isah Asekhaimeh — Deputy Governor
6. APM- Igbineweka Osamuede—Governor; Obiyan Christian —     Deputy Governor
7. APP- Amos Osalumese Areloegbe—Governor; Afolabi Ogah  —    Deputy Governor
8. LP- Osifo Uhun-Ekpenma Isaiah—Governor; Omobayo Marvellous—Deputy Governor
9. NNPP- Agolebun Tracy—Governor; Enobhaysobo Jonathan    —     Deputy Governor
10. NRM- Stevie Nash Ozono—Governor; Osadolor Eghe Festus—       Deputy Governor
11. PDP- Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki—Governor; Philip Shaibu—    Deputy Governor
12. SDP- Felix Ikezor Obayangbon—Governor; Omion Omonye—       Deputy Governor
13. YPP- Jones Osagiobare—Governor; Samson Olukayode Idowu—   Deputy Governor
14. ZLP- Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena—Governor; Thompson Osadolor—Deputy Governor

INEC’s national commissioner for information and voter education Festus Okoye said that they convened a meeting due to the crisis which might impede the smooth conduct of primaries and the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state.

The INEC Commissioner said “In view of this and as part of its commitment to deepen the use of technology in elections, the commission will conduct a training programme for Liaison Officers nominated by all the registered Political Parties on the use of the INEC Portal for uploading nomination forms of candidates. The training will take place at the Conference Hall of the Commission on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th June 2020 in two batches, to allow for physical distancing in line with the COVID-19 protocols. Political Parties should note that the organisation and scheduling of various activities and processes leading to the conduct of elections are complex and involve extensive and careful planning and any disruption of these processes comes at a huge cost to the nation. The spate and tenor of pre-election litigations and the conflicting orders emanating therefrom can harm the smooth conduct of primaries and the upcoming elections.”