Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia.
A total of 18 candidates have been shortlisted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the 2023 governorship poll in Abia State.
Out of the 18 successful candidates on the INEC’s final list published Tuesday at the INEC headquarters in Umuahia, only two candidates are females while 16 are males.
Analysis of the male-dominated list by Ikengaonline, shows that it has only four females as deputy governorship candidates while the rest are males.
Some of the governorship candidates include Professor Uche Ikonne of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party; his running mate, Hon. Okey Igwe; Professor Greg Ibe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; his running mate, Hon. Obinna Ichita; the Labour Party governorship candidate, Dr Alex Otti; and his running mate, Emetu Lekwachi.
On the list also were the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Chief Ikechi Emenike; his running mate, Gloria Akara; Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the African Democratic Congress, ADC; and his running mate, Ngozi Nwasimuo; Chima Nwafor of the Young Peoples Party, YPP; and his running mate, Chima Anyaso.
The two female governorship candidates are Nnennaya Lancaster-Okoro of PRP; and Gladys Johnson-Ogbuneke of SDP.
