19: Kogi, Bayelsa gov contests of crowded contenders

19: Kogi, Bayelsa gov contests of crowded contenders

Kogi, Bayelsa gov contests of crowded contenders

By Muideen Olaniyi

The dates are fast approaching. The governorship candidates have been sieved. Stakeholders, including politicians, candidates, security personnel and the electoral body have been meating in order to ensure smooth and peaceful governorship elections. So, there are desperate moves by contenders to pick the two ‘plum’ governorship seats in Kogi and Bayelsa state. The crowd of candidates in the race has provided a platform for intense political campaigns.

Last Monday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that 42 candidates would contest the two governorship seats in Kogi and Bayelsa states on November 21 and December 5, 2015 respectively.

A final list signed by the Acting Secretary to the INEC, U. F. Usman, showed that 22 candidates are to contest for the governorship seat in Kogi state alongside their deputies, while the governorship seat in Bayelsa State will be contested by 20 candidates with their deputies.

A breakdown of the contestants for Kogi governorship election, their deputies and parties is as follows: Governor, Isah Yakubu Kamaldeen, Deputy Aina Sanmi Kenedy, Action Alliance (AA); Governor, Dickson F. Fred, Deputy, Davidson Olu, Accord; Governor, Ukenya Musa, Deputy, Daodu Kingsley Ojeifo, Advanced Congress Of Democrats (ACD); Governor, Michael Abdullahi, Deputy Rashidat Wokili, Alliance for Democracy (AD); Governor, Usman Zainab, Deputy, Adewale Akilo, African Democratic Congress (ADC); Governor, Odufu Cosmas Friday, Deputy, Yakubu Abdullahi, African Peoples Alliance (APA); Governor, Prince Abubakar Audu, Deputy, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, All Progressives Congress (APC); Governor Akwu Umar Goodman, Deputy, Catherine Ohunene Maliki, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Governor, Yinka Cherry Oloruntoba, Deputy, Hajiya Zainab Audu, Citizens Popular Party (CPP); Governor, Philips Ezekiel Koleola, Deputy, Fashe Funmi Onyioza, Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC); Governor, Abubakar Ibrahim, Deputy Mohammed Abubakar Alfa, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP).

The list also includes Governor, Ibrahim Adejoh, Deputy, Abubakar Mayaki, Independent Democrats (ID); Governor, Raji Ogirima, Deputy, Hajiya Hawa Sulieman, Kowa Party (KP); Governor Philips Omeiza Ozovehe Salawu, Deputy, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, Labour Party (LP); Governor, Mohammed Ibrahim Dangana, Deputy, Omiachi Oyibo Joseph, National Conscience Party (NCP); Governor Mallam Abdul Hussein, Deputy, Alori Joseph Sunday, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Daikwo, Deputy, Hon. Hamza Musa Loko, People For Democratic Change (PDC); Governor, Capt. Idris Ichalla Wada, Deputy, Abayomi Awoniyi, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Governor, Emmanuel Enesi Ozigi, Deputy, Ibrahim Bako Tajudeen, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA); Governor, Dr. Ojuh Godwin Hussein, Deputy Ibrahim Lawal Mohammed Dutse, Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN); Governor, Enema Paul, Deputy, Sheidu Mohammed Obansa, Social Democratic Party (SDP); Governor, Saád Mukailu Yaro, Deputy, Ahmed Sule Obyetor, United Democratic Party (UDP).

The approved list of candidates for the Bayelsa governorship election includes Governor, Chief Ken Gbahligha Gbalikuma, Deputy, Chief Sara Samuel, Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN); Governor, Chief Osain Dumome, Deputy, Apolous Diseye Stanley, African Democratic Congress (ADC); Governor, Abbey E.G Daniel, Deputy, Weleke Enebiwaikumor Saturday A., African Peoples Alliance (APA); Governor, Timipre Marlin Sylva, Deputy, Wilberforce Titus Igiri, All Progressives Congress (APC); Governor, Hon. Deacon Christopher Fullpower Enai, Deputy, Prince Abeki, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Governor, Eneyi Gideon Roloand Zidougha, Deputy, Talbort Johnie Maclean, Citizens Popular Party (CPP); Governor, Henry Pereokosifa Apeli, Deputy, Seiyefa Fetepigi Eches, Democratic Peoples Congress (DPC); Governor, Pius Abudou Waritimi, Deputy, Jeremiah Alabaraba, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP); Governor, Major Newline Dengeyifa Sam Yaudugagha, Deputy, Macaustine Maclean Dangosu, Independent Democrats (ID); Governor, Isaac Suoyo Nathan, Deputy, Maxson A. Golden, Kowa Party (KP); Governor, Ogoriba Timiniderimo Kaiser, Deputy, Ogidi Sydney Fredrick, Labour Party (LP)

The list further includes Governor, Ekubo Prince Tari, Deputy, Isaac Ekpartaziba Eze, Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP); Governor, Namatebe Inko, Deputy, Laye Inko, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); Governor, Ere Hendrix Obragono, Deputy, Akainza Amaebimo Mayo, People For Democratic Change (PDC); Governor, Moses Ebipadou Siliko Siasia, Deputy, Irene T. Digitemie Opuene, Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM); Governor, Dickson Henry Seriake, Deputy, retired Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Governor, Alexander Peretu, Deputy, Abraham Didekere, Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA); Governor, Enu Otonye, Deputy, Lucy Akpoebi Brigidi, Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN); Governor, Joy Prince Oniekpe, Deputy, Mathew Basoene, Social Democratic Party (SDP); Governor Willams Woyinkuro Berezi, Deputy, Siebokuko Tonye James, United Progressive Party (UPP).

In the meantime, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to deploy a total of 21,947 personnel for the conduct of the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections scheduled for Saturday, November 21 and Saturday, December 5, 2015.

For the Kogi governorship election, a total of 12,120 officers will be deployed, while for the Bayelsa governorship elections, the Commission will deploy 9,827 officers for the conduct the elections.

The personnel include Returning Officer, LGA Collation Officers, Registration Area Collation Officers, Supervisory Presiding Officers, Presiding Officers (NYSC), Assistant Presiding Officers (APO) (I,II, and III), Assistant Presiding Officers (VP), Reserve APOs (5%) of APOs (NYSC), LGA Supervisors plus Head Quarters (HQ) Reserve, Registration Area Cluster Supervisors plus HQ Reserve, and Constituency Supervisor.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission will commence distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Kogi state today (Friday) and in Bayelsa on Friday November, 13 2015.

According to INEC Daily Bulletin, the distribution is to ensure eligible Nigerians who registered in the recently conducted Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise participate in the November 21 Kogi and December 5 Bayelsa 2015 governorship elections.

The exercise in Kogi is scheduled for Friday, November 6 to Wednesday, November 11, 2015.The PVC distribution exercise for Bayelsa is scheduled for Friday, November 13 to 19, 2015.

The distribution of PVCs in both states will commence at 8am daily and end at 4pm at the ward level.

In the same vein, the Independent National Electoral Commission, in conjunction with the UNDP-DGD II Project, will be organizing a Peace Summit in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State in order to ensure political parties, candidates and their supporters play by the rules.

Apart from the political parties and candidates, the event scheduled for Tuesday, November, 10, 2015, will see major stakeholders, including the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), traditional Rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, leading civil society organizations (CSOs), women and youth groups, People Living with Disabilities (PLWD), security agencies, State Inter-Agency Committee on Voter Education and Publicity (SICVEP) members and the media in attendance.