Omitted Candidates: Adebutu, Pantami, John Upan, Nkoyo Toyo — PDP, NDC, LP, ADP Meet INEC Deadline

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has met the Independent National Electoral Commission’s, INEC, October 24 deadline for correcting the names of candidates omitted from its published list.

The party’s National Organising Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (rtd), confirmed the development to Vanguard on Sunday.

According to Bature, the party’s governorship candidates in Ogun, Oladipupo Adebutu, and Gombe, Prof. Isa Pantami, and about seven House of Assembly candidates whose names were omitted have been corrected within the stipulated period.

“Yes, we met the deadline since,” Bature said.

The development comes as other opposition parties affected by the omission also confirmed compliance with INEC’s directive.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Osa Director, simply said, “Yes, we did,” when asked if the party met the deadline.

Similarly, the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party, ADP, Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani, said: “We did. Thanks a lot.”

The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, LP, Ken Asogwa, said the party is in good standing with INEC on correction of names and replacement of candidates.

“The Labour Party is in good standing with INEC, including on matters relating to the correction of names and replacement of candidates,” Asogwa said, adding that the party is confident and looks forward to a successful outing for all its candidates.

Other affected parties include the Social Democratic Party, SDP, the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

INEC is however yet to clarify the status of some omitted candidates, including NDC’s John Upan and Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo of ADC in Cross River State.

Ambassador Toyo told Vanguard that she had done all that was required before the deadline expired but INEC is yet to release updated information.

“They gave us the deadline of October 24 which was Saturday and I had done all that they asked for but they have not brought out any information. Let’s wait for them,” she said.

Contacted, the Head, INEC Voter Education in Cross River, Mr. Osaro Aisen, said: “The whole thing is handled from Abuja and it is a legal matter. Let’s see what will come forth tomorrow (Monday). I cannot give you a categorical answer now till tomorrow.”

INEC is expected to clarify the status of the omitted candidates this week.