The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday revealed that 39 candidates of political parties across Oyo State will contest the forthcoming gubernatorial election billed to take place on Saturday March 2nd 2019.
Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Barrister Mutiu Agboke, who stated this while briefing journalists on the activities of the commission at its headquarters in Ibadan, the state capital, added that three females and 36 males are contesting the gubernatorial election.
Agboke maintained that 58 candidates from 24 political parties and 198 candidates from 32 political parties will contest the three senatorial seats and fourteen (14) House of Representatives seats in the election billed to take place on Saturday 16th February 2019 across the state.
He added that 623 candidates from 49 political parties will contest the 32 House of Assembly seats in the state.
Agboke said, “For Senate, we have 54 males and 4 females from 24 political parties. The total number of Senatorial candidates is 58. We have 39 gubernatorial candidates from 39 political parties. The list included three (3) females and thirty six (36) males.
“For House of Representatives seats, one hundred and seventy four (174) males are contesting the election while twenty four of them are females. A total of one hundred and ninety eight (198) candidates from thirty two political parties are contesting the 14 House of Representatives seats.
“For House of Assembly seats, six hundred and twenty three (623) candidates from forty nine (49) political parties are contesting the House of Assembly seats. We have five hundred and eleven (511) males and one hundred and twelve females (112)”.
Agboke continued by warning politicians against vote buying.
He said, “The commission also seized the opportunity of the interactive session to intimate the politicians about dangers of vote buying which has become a menace in the recent elections in the country. The politicians however were told not to use money to induce voters thereby influencing their informed decisions.”
Agboke concluded by saying that the door for PVCs collection has not been closed.
“Let me use this medium to tell the general public that the news that the INEC has opened window for fresh registration is fake. The fresh registration has been suspended till after the elections. Also, let use this opportunity to say that INEC has not close the door for collection of PVCs.
“Also, I want to tell you that the news that INEC is recruiting Ad-hock staff is fake. INEC cannot recruit on the page of Facebook or Twitter. Our recruitment is not done on Facebook or Twitter,” he said.
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