INEC Confirms Date For Final Candidate List In Anambra Election

The date for the distribution of the final list of candidates for the Anambra governorship election on November 6, 2021 has been reaffirmed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Commission agreed to publish the final list on October 7 during a meeting on Thursday.

Mr Festus Okoye, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, said in a statement that the date is the same as the one in the election’s calendar and program of operations, which was issued previously.

Mr Okoye stated that the Commission’s approved itinerary and schedule of activities on January 18, 2021, allows for the withdrawal/substitution of candidates in accordance with Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2010. (as amended).

As a result, by the Commission’s July 30 deadline, 11 of the 18 political parties had substituted seven governorship and 11 deputy governorship candidates.

In addition, the Commission received notice of a decision by the Court of Appeal (Kano Division) overturning the High Court of Jigawa State’s decision on the leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance and the nomination of its candidates for the Anambra Governorship election.

The Commission has issued an amended list of candidates on its website as a result of the substitutions and court rulings, and the final list will be published on October 7.

Meanwhile, INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu has stated that the electoral body will continue to improve its use of technology in elections across the country.

Professor Yakubu made the remark during the opening ceremony of a two-day retreat for commission officers in Nasarawa State’s Keffi.

INEC, he claims, does not require new legislation to implement some technology.

As a result, he stated that the Commission will use “new and innovative” technology for the Anambra election.

He explained, “We may have different instruments, but they all strive toward the same goal.”

“There are some activities, some pieces of technology that we have implemented, and the regulations are already adequate for us to continue to use these tools,” says the author.

“For example, we don’t require any specific legal provisions to deploy the EMSC (Election Monitoring and Support Centre).”

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His remark comes only weeks after the National Assembly passed an Electoral Act change measure, sparking heated debate over whether election results should be transmitted electronically.