The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Tuesday published the final list of cleared 32 presidential and vice presidential candidates from the 18 registered political parties for the  2023 General Election


Expectedly, the four top contenders including Atiku Abubakar, PDP;  Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC;  Peter  Obi, LP and Rabiu Kwankwaso, NNPP all scaled INEC’s final hurdle alongside their running mates


INEC also over-ruled the purported expulsion of the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Kachikwu Dumebi from the party by former chairman of the party Okey Nwosu by listing his name alongside other candidates.


For the National Assembly elections, 1,101 candidates were listed for 109 Senatorial seats and 3,122 candidates for House of Representatives seats, making a total of 4,223 candidates contesting for 469 National Assembly positions.


However, conspicuously missing from the list include the name of the  Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Bashir Machina who are currently in Court tussling for  APC's Yobe North senatorial district ticket.


No name was also  listed as APC's candidate for Abia Central Senatorial district where Rep Sam Onuigbo and Hon Emeka Atuma are tussling for the ticket in Court.


INEC's National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye in statement said
the approval and publication of the final list of candidates for national elections (Presidential, Senatorial and Federal Constituencies) were in accordance with the provisions “under section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and item 8 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election”.


According to him, the “list published today contains the names of candidates validly nominated for national elections at the close of party primaries and the period earmarked for withdrawal and substitution of candidates”


He said the final list of candidates for State elections (Governorship and State Constituencies) will be published on 4th October 2022 as  indicated on the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.


“In summary, all the 18 political parties have fielded candidates and their running mates for the Presidential election.


“In terms of gender distribution, 3,875 candidates are male, made up of 35 for Presidential and Vice Presidential, 1,008 for Senate and 2,832 for House of Representatives. Similarly, 381 females comprising 1 for the Presidential, 92 for the Senate, and 288 for the House of Representatives are contesting. There are also 11 Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the race”.


The Commission appealed to all political parties to channel any observations on the list of candidates to the Commission and such must be signed by the National Chairman and Secretary of the political party and supported with an affidavit as provided in section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022.