2023: INEC confirms updated version of PDP candidates’ list in Edo; Brainstorms with security agencies on election security in Lagos

By Nefishetu Yakubu, Benin/Adeyemi Adeleye, Lagos, Nov. 17, 2022

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Edo office, on Thursday confirmed the updated version of the list of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates vying for state and National Assembly elections in Edo.

Mr. Timidi Wariowei, Head, Voter Education and Publicity, confirmed the updated version of the list in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria NAN in Benin.

Wariowei said the office was, however, yet to receive the hard copy of the updated list to paste on their notice board.

He said: “There is an amended version of the list of PDP candidates vying for state and National Assembly elections in Edo on INEC website, strictly based on court order.”

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that there has been controversies following the emergence of different lists of candidates produced from parallel primary elections conducted by the party in the state.

INEC had earlier published the list of candidates for the state and National Assembly elections in the state but has now updated it.

Meanwhile, INEC in Lagos State on Thursday held an inaugural meeting with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) on security ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos state, disclosed this in a statement by Mrs. Adenike Tadese, the Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity.

The meeting held at the commission’s state office at Sabo-Yaba.

“The committee agreed to design security strategies to deploy before, during and after the 2023 general elections, to ensure the security of the electorate and the entire electoral process,” Agbaje said.

He assured residents of the state that the forthcoming general elections would be conducted in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.

Agbaje said that INEC was making efforts to make votes count and consolidate on the nation’s democracy.

The INEC boss said the meeting had in attendance, heads of other security agencies in the state and the commission’s administrative secretary.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ICCES is headed by Agbaje while the Commissioner of Police, Lagos state Command, Mr. Abiodun Alabi serves as the Co-Chairman.