By Beverly Ehia, Abakaliki
The speaker of Ebonyi state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has emerged as the authentic candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2023 general election.
Similarly, Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii turned out to be the recognized guber candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) for the same general election in the state.
These names appeared on the governorship candidate list posted at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state on Friday evening.
Also on the list was the name of the guber candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA), Professor Ifeanyichukwu Bernard Odoh, his running mate, Anthony Chukwu, and the running mates of Odii, and Nwifuru.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) same Friday, published a total of 12 political parties that nominated candidates for the 2023 governorship race in Ebonyi State.
The Commission also published 16 political parties that would participate in the race for the 24 House of Assembly positions in the State.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ebonyi. State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Joseph Chukwu, who disclosed this while briefing Journalists in his office in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State Capital, said the list of candidates nominated by various political parties had been pasted at the INEC LGAs offices across the State, in line with section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, and schedule of activities of the Commission.
He listed the names of the political parties that nominated governorship candidates in Ebonyi including AA, ADC, ADP, APC, APGA, APM, APP, LP, NNPP, NRM, PDP, and YPP.
The INEC boss also listed the 16 political parties that nominated candidates for Ebonyi St e House of Assembly seats as follows: AA (24 candidates), ADC (23 Candidates), ADP ( 24 Candidates), APC (24 Candidates), APGA (24 Candidates), APM (3 Candidates), APP (4 Candidates), BP (1 Candidate), LP (24 Candidates), NNPP (24 Candidates), NRM (24 Candidates), PDP (24 Candidates), PRP (1 Candidate), PSDP (6 Candidates), YPP (Candidate) and ZLP (14 Candidates).
Mr. Chukwu further explained that a total of 245 State House of Assembly candidates would participate in the 2023 general elections in Ebonyi State.
Speaking on the voter’s registration, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, enjoined eligible residents of Ebonyi State yet to register or update their voter registration to use the window period to do so, as there might not be any further extension after July 31, 2022, deadline.