Lawan, Akpabio Not On Our List As Senatorial Candidates – INEC

By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has insisted that names of the President of the Senate,Ahmad Lawan and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio are not on its list as candidates for 2023 election.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Festus Okoye, said in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday that the commission is not aware of any doctored list from any political party, which contains their names.

The statement titied, ‘Spurious allegations in respect of candidates in some senatorial districts,’ it also clarified that the position of Yo e North and Akwa Ibom North West senatorial districts has not changed.

“As evidence of the alleged role played by the Commission, a certified true copy of Form 9C uploaded by their political party and received by the Commission on 17th June 2022 when the nomination portal closed was presented.

“For clarity, the Form EC9 (submission of names of candidates by political parties) is the Form uploaded by parties on the INEC nomination portal.

“This is clearly indicated on the title of the Form which was received on 17th June 2022 when the portal closed.

“What follows is the publication of the personal particulars of nominated candidates which was done a week later.

“The Forms of the two personalities in question were not published by the Commission. The decision of the Commission triggered legal action which are still ongoing.

“It therefore defies logic and common sense to go around and submit doctored documents purportedly recognizing the duo as candidates when the matter is clearly sub-judice.

“As part of the ongoing case in Court, a law firm requested the Commission for a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Form EC9 submitted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as its candidate for Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District which we are duty bound to oblige them under the law.

“The Form was certified on 15th July 2022. If minimum care has been exercised by the promoters of the story, they would have seen the two stamps of the Commission bearing different dates on the Form. It is this Form that is now misconstrued as INEC’s endorsement.

“For the record, the Commission has not recognized any of the two personalities as  Senatorial candidates.”

During the primary of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) the former Minister, and senate president did not participate as they were presidential aspirants.

It was after they failed at the presidential primary they they are putting pressure on candidates with senatorial ticket to step aside for them.

Akpabio was reported to have sponsored a family member to contest the primary on his behalf.