Despite several visits to President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock to register their displeasure over outcome of Governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha finally lost out of contest as names of their preferred governorship candidates were missing from the list released on Friday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Commission had on Friday released and published 67 names of cleared candidates for the 2019 gubernatorial elections in 29 states.
In Ogun State, INEC published the name of Dapo Abiodun as the APC candidate and Bode Mustapha as his running mate as against the name of Hon. Adekunle Akinlade backed by Governor Amosun.
Governor Okorocha was also unlucky as the Electoral body did not publish name of APC candidate while name of former deputy speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, was published as PDP candidate.
The failure of INEC to capture the APC on the list was as a result of legal tussle between Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law and anointed candidate of Governor Okorocha and Senator Hope Uzodinma backed by the national body of the party.
In Cross River State, Niger Delta Minister, Usani Usani lost out to Senator John Enoh, whose name was published as APC candidate.
Meanwhile, Senator Buruji Kashamu faction of the PDP in Ogun State floored the National body of the party as INEC published the name of Lawal Shittu and former Presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, as governorship and running mate candidates of PDP in Ogun State.
It could be recalled that just last week, the National Working Committee of PDP had accused INEC of complicity in the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party by obtaining lists of candidates from the Kashamu faction instead of the NWC backed Sikirulai Ogundele faction which nominated Hon. Oladipo Adebutu as governorship candidate.
In Zamfara State, names of the APC candidates were missing in the list displayed at the INEC Secretariat in Gusau.
The political parties whose candidates were on the list were APGA, PDP, NRM, SDP, PRP, GPN and NCP among others.
Speaking to newsmen in Gusau, the National Commissioner in-charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, Hajiya Amina Zakari, who was in the state for official visit, said the commission had not received a list of APC candidates.
“I think, it has been said several times that the APC didn’t have candidates in the state, so we have not received their candidates.
This issue is in court and if court asks us to go ahead and receive their list, we will certainly receive their names.
Therefore, since date for the submission of candidates has been passed, we shouldn’t go on that now; we should concentrate on what will be beneficial to the communities which is voter register, claims, objections and verification,” she said.
Zakari said she was in Zamfara to see how the state INEC office was doing and to observe and monitor the ongoing display of voters’ register, claims and objection.
“The reason for the exercise is for eligible persons to check their names and confirm if they are on the list or if there is any mistake in the names or misspelled. It is important for the politicians to look at the register critically and confirm to have credible list for the election.”
She decried low turnout for collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards at the centres across the three states, urging stakeholders to assist in enlightening the public on the importance of PVC collection.
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