Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Ogbonnaya Nwifuru, and Chief Ifeanyichukwuma Odii have emerged the authentic candidates for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 2023 election for Ebonyi State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu disclosed this in Abakaliki on Tuesday.
According to him, 13 governorship candidates and 246 candidates for state house of Assembly will contest for the election.
The REC further disclosed that Odoh Ifeanyi Bernard is the candidate for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); while Nkwegu Edward is the Labour Party (LP) candidate.
Other governorship candidates include, Opoke Sunday for YPP; Usulor Anthony for NRM; and Chukwuma Nwandugo for AA and others.
Meanwhile, the REC, Dr. Chukwu, has called on security chiefs in the state to be strictly guided by the provision of the 2022 Electoral Act and other extant laws in respect of political campaigns.
He solicited their co-operation and effectiveness in achieving violence-free political campaigns, rallies, processions and meetings in the State.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state and Chairman ICCES Ebonyi State CP Garba Aliyu, assured the REC that the security agencies would do their best to secure lives and property and to also ensure that the 2023 election is free and fair.
He said: “INEC and Security agencies are ready to articulate this together to achieve success in the 2023 election.
“We assure you that the security agencies will do the best they can to the best of their abilities and responsibility to ensure they as security agencies secure lives and property, and also ensure that 2023 elections will be free, fair and without any contradictions.”