The Independent National Electoral Commission has validated only three political parties to contest the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election scheduled for June 20, excluding other parties that missed nomination requirements.
According to INEC, “only three political parties to participate in the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election slated for June 20, effectively shutting out the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and other parties that failed to meet the nomination requirements.”
The cleared parties are the All Progressives Congress fielding Chief Ikeje Asogwa; the Peoples Democratic Party represented by Chief Nestor Ezeme; and the BOOT Party whose candidate is Mr Chukwuebuka Aneke.
Speaking in Enugu, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, explained the decision. “At the close of nominations, three political parties successfully submitted the required nomination forms in respect of candidates they intend to sponsor for the by-election. The political parties are APC, BOOT Party (BP) and PDP,” Chukwu said.
He disclosed that “only the APC, PDP and BP successfully complied with the deadline for the submission of nomination forms and supporting documents through the INEC Nomination Portal.” The deadline for Forms EC9, EC9C and other nomination documents was June 2, as approved in INEC’s timetable.
The exclusion means parties such as the Nigeria Democratic Congress and the African Democratic Congress “will not participate in the by-election after failing to meet INEC’s June 2 deadline for the submission of nomination forms and other required documents through the commission’s nomination portal.”
Chukwu added that INEC has processed the documents “in line with Sections 29(3) and 32(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended)” and has published Forms EC9 and the final list of candidates as required by law. He urged the public to scrutinize candidates’ particulars at the commission’s notice board at the Enugu State headquarters during official hours.
Reaffirming INEC’s stance, the REC assured “political parties, candidates and other stakeholders of a level playing field throughout the electoral process.”
The by-election will hold across 1,488 polling units in six LGAs: Nsukka, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Udenu, Igbo-Etiti and Uzo-Uwani.
Source: The Papers Nigeria Politics