2019 POLL: ELECTORAL COMMISSION CONFIRMS PARTICIPATION OF 73 POLITICAL PARTIES
The chairman also disclosed that at the end of the period for the substitution and withdrawal of candidates for the Presidential election, 73 political parties had filed their nominations,adding that a few parties (which he did not name) among the 79 that listed Presidential candidates, nominated candidates below the mandatory age of thirty-five (35) years for presidential and Vice Presidential candidates and the attention of the parties concerned had been drawn to it.
Penpushing also reports that, Yakubu, while affirming the importance of the media, said the commission sees the press as partners and is organising the workshop to “carry the press along for the success of the general election”.
The commission boss stated that, elections are not just about the right to vote but the knowledge of the voting process, adding that, this includes information about political parties, candidates and their programmes, facilitating the full participation of the citizenry in the democratic elections, “which is why the media plays an important role. The media needs unfettered access to information,” he said.
He said with the campaigns for Governorship and State Assembly elections beginning Saturday, December 1, the commission has successfully implemented seven out of the 14 activities on the commission’s timetable, emphasizing that the commission will never tolerate any breach of the strict timelines provided for.
The Chairman on the National Assembly elections, revealed that 1,848 candidates: 1,615 males and 233 females are vying for 109 senatorial seats while 4,635 candidates: 4,066 male and 569 female are competing for the 360 seats in the House of Representatives.
‘For State elections, 1,068 candidates (980 males and 88 females) are contesting for 29 Governorship positions with 805 males and 263 females for Deputy Governorship slots’ he said.
He said the commission was working on the list of candidates nominated by political parties for the 991 State Assembly constituencies as well as the 68 area council chairpersons and councillorship positions.
Penpushing also reports that, the electoral umpire however, assured that the full list of candidates and their political parties will be published for public information in line with the commission’s timetable and schedule of activities.
