Edo guber: Obaseki, Ize-Iyamu to slug it out with 12 others 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates eligible to participate in the September 19 governorship elections in Edo State. 

The list revealed that incumbent governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will slug it out with 12 other candidates. 

INEC had set July 13 as the deadline for withdrawal and substitution of candidates for the election.

Before the expiration date, only three parties – the Action Alliance (AA), Labour Party (LP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) substituted the candidates earlier nominated for the poll. 

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, in a statement, stated that political parties could no longer withdraw or substitute nominated candidates. 

“With the publication of the final list of candidates, no political party can withdraw or substitute any of the nominated candidates or tamper with the list and particulars of the candidates in a manner inconsistent with the intendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act,” he said.