2023: INEC speaks on accepting Lawan, Akpabio as senatorial candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied reports making the rounds that it has accepted the nominations of the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan as senatorial candidates for Yobe North Senatorial Districts and former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio for Akwa Ibom North-West, respectively.

It would be recalled that the electoral body had rejected the nomination of the duo following controversies surrounding the primary elections of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which purportedly produced them.

But an online news platform recently claimed that the commission doctored and backdated documents to accommodate Lawan and Akpabio’s nominations.

Reacting, INEC in a statement on Tuesday by National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, denied the report, stressing that it did not recognize any of the two as senatorial candidates.

The statement reads in part, “For the record, the commission has not recognized any of the two personalities as a senatorial candidate.

“We call for responsible reportage as against the unwarranted attack on the commission and its officials over a matter that can be easily fact-checked.”