The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no candidate for Yobe North and Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial Districts.
This was disclosed by INEC’s National Commissioner, Festus Okoye.
Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Who’s currently representing Yobe North, and Akwa Ibom’s former governor, Goswell Akpabio are in a tussle to get the ruling party’s ticket to contest for their respective senatorial ticket after they failed in the presidential primary of their party.
“In these two constituencies, two names were forwarded and the commission decided that the names were not persons who emerged from a validly conducted party primaries and we did not publish their names. That is where we are,” Okoye said during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“Their (Lawan and Akpabio) names were uploaded by the APC to our candidates’ nomination portal but the Commission decided that they were not the candidates that emerged from valid party primaries,” he added.
“The commission did not publish their names and their particulars in their constituencies. So, the implication is that as of today, the APC does not have candidates in those two constituencies.”
Last week, INEC denied doctoring and backdating documents to accommodate the nominations of Lawan and Akpabio as senatorial candidates for the 2023 general elections.
“The Forms of the two personalities in question were not published by the Commission,” INEC said.
“The decision of the Commission triggered legal action which is 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 sub-judice.”
