INEC Chairman, Yakub Mahmood

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had cleared Osagie Ize-Iyamu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 18 others as candidates in the Sept. 10 governorship election in Edo.

Also cleared, according to the commission, are Mr Godwin Obaseki of All Progressives Congress (APC), Amos Areloegbe, Labour Party and Oronsaye Richard, Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP).

This is contained in the list of political parties and their candidates for the election, published by the commission in a document obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

The document signed by the commission’s Secretary, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu, explained that the clearance of Obaseki as PDP’s candidate was based on a court order.

Other candidates on the list are Mr Ishaka Ofemile, Action Alliance; Mr Andrew Igewmoh, Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD); Mr Cosmos Irabor, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) and Onaiwu Osaro, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Others are Mr David Okoror, Citizens Popular Party (CPP); Mr Tobi Adeniyi, Independent Democrats (ID), Thompson Osadolor, KOWA Party; Peters Omoragbon, National Conscience Party (NCP) and Akhalamhe Amiemenoghena of People for Democratic Change (PDC).

Mr Thomas Sadoh of Progressive People Alliance (PPA), Mrs Agol Ebun, Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN); Omorogieva Gbajumo, Social Democratic Party (SDP); Shadrach Efogie, United Progressive Party (UPP) and Nurudeen Inwanefero of Young Democratic Party (YDP) were also cleared to participate.

In the document, INEC stated that the announcement of cleared candidates for the election was in line with Section 34 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). (NAN)