20 Parties Field Candidates For Osun Gov Poll

No fewer than 20 political parties are to field candidates for the August 9, 2014 Governorship Election in Osun State.

A list of candidates and political parties released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State revealed that 20 parties would be fielding candidates for the election as filing of nomination of new candidates came to a close.

At the close of the period for the filing of nomination, a document released by the Public Affairs Officer of INEC in the state, Mrs. Adenike Tadese, indicated that 20 candidates have their papers with the electoral body seeking to participate in the governorship election.

According to the document signed by one Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu, the parties are Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), ACPN, Alliance for Democracy (AD), ADC, APA, APGA, APC, CPP, Labour Party (LP) and MPPP.

Others are National Conscience Party (NCP), NNPP, Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA), UNP, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), UPP and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Investigations conducted revealed that leadership of the parties have started visiting the INEC office along Gbongan Ibadan Road to cross check the names of their candidates and their deputies.

INEC in the statement said the release of the documents was in compliance with Section 31 Subsections 3, 4 and 5 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

The documents, INEC added, had been displayed at the Office of the Commission and its 30 Local Government Offices.

The statement however asked members of the public to grab the opportunity to scrutinise the documents with a view to questioning the authenticity of the credentials where necessary under the law.

It further charged any citizen of the state who has any claim or doubts the originality of the documents submitted to INEC by the candidates to approach the court of law.

The release reads in part: “In compliance with Section 31 Subsections 3, 4 and 5 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission, Osun State, on Monday, 16th June, 2014, displayed personal particulars of all candidates contesting the August 9, 2014 Gubernatorial Election in the state.

“By this act, members of the public by law, have the opportunity to scrutinise the documents submitted by candidates as pasted by INEC.

“Any person who has any claim to question information given by these candidates should approach the Court of law. General public please note.”

DAILY INDEPENDENT