EXCLUSIVE: Blunder As INEC Wrongly Publishes Names Of PDP Candidates In Two Delta Constituencies

In an apparent mistake, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has wrongly published names of candidates of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Isoko, Delta state against where they ought to contest the March 2nd State Assembly elections, BIGPEN ONLINE can report.

According to the final list of candidates released by the Commission, seen by our correspondent, INEC published the name of PDP candidate in Isoko South Constituency I as candidate for constituency II while candidate for constituency II is published as candidate for constituency I.

The candidate for constituency I which is Mr. Kenneth Ogba appears among others listed in Isoko South II whereas he is from Isoko South I. Ogba’s name appears in number 13 of the INEC final list with a stipulated age of 51 with Secondary School Certificate, SSCE stated as his certificate.

Also, Mr. Ferguson Onwo, another PDP candidate that supposed to appear in Isoko South constituency II was listed in Isoko South constituency I in the INEC final list of candidates. He is 52 and has Bsc listed against his name as qualification.

The blunder, BIGPEN ONLINE gathered has thrown the camp of both candidates into serious confusion as they are not sure if the error came from the forms and credentials submitted to INEC.

It was learnt that the duo has been running helter-skelter, shuttling between Isoko and Asaba since the abnormally was discovered trying to rectify the published list which has since been gazetted and published on INEC website.

Sources said that the development would result to serious litigation for INEC if the blunder is coming from them.

Our source hinted that the opponents of the two PDP candidate affected by the error in the INEC documents may be heading to court to restrain the commission from altering the documents.

Section 33 of the Electoral Act (2010) debars political parties from changing their candidates whose name had been submitted according to Section 31 of the same law, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate.

When contacted, INEC’s Director Public Affairs in Asaba, Bukola Ojeme said he was not aware of any blunder in the published list of candidates but promised to verify the claims when he see the document of the published candidates.

As at time of filing this report on Saturday, he was yet to revert back when the document was sent to him by this medium.

He however said that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State, Dr Cyril Omorogbe, would soon brief the press on the situation of things at the INEC office.