TheCable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has failed to publish the name of any governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo state.

The party was not reflected in the list of parties for the 2019 governorship election published at the commission’s office in Owerri, according to PUNCH.

The commission published names of governorship candidates of about 67 political parties alongside their particulars.

The APC primary election in Imo was marred by controversies, with no aspirant confirmed as the party’s flag bearer in the election.

While the party leadership favoured the governorship candidacy of Hope Uzodimma, senator representing Imo west, Rochas Okorocha, the state governor, is rooting for Uche Nwosu, his son-in-law.

Nwosu has accused Adams Oshiomhole, APC national chairman, of frustrating his governorship bid.

Okorocha and the APC national chairman have also tackled each other over the matter which is being contested in court.

TheCable is yet to confirm why the name was missing. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, INEC director of publicity and voter education, did not respond to enquires made.

In the same manner, the names of Zamfara APC candidates were missing in the lists of governorship and state assembly candidates displayed at the INEC secretariat in Gusau on Friday.

The political parties whose candidates were on the list were APGA, PDP, NRM, SDP, PRP, GPN and NCP among others.

Amina Zakari, national commissioner in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, told NAN that 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,” she said.

“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.”