Daniel Agbolade

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said 39 candidates from 39 political parties across Oyo State will contest the forthcoming gubernatorial election billed to take place on Saturday. March 2, 2019.

Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Mutiu Agboke, who made the disclosure while briefing journalists on activities of the commission at its headquarters in Ibadan, the state capital, said three females and 36 males are contesting the gubernatorial election.

He stated further that 58 candidates from 24 political parties, and 198 candidates from 32 political parties will contest the three senatorial seats and 14 House of Representatives seats in the election billed to take place on Saturday, 16 February, 2019, across the state.

He added that 623 candidates from 49 political parties will contest the 32 House of Assembly seats in the state.

He said, "For Senate, we have 54 males and 4 females from 24 political parties. The total number of Senatorial candidates is 58. We have 39 gubernatorial candidates from 39 political parties. The list included three (3) females and thirty six (36) males.

"For House of Representatives seats, one hundred and seventy four (174) males are contesting the election while twenty four of them are females. A total of one hundred and ninety eight (198) candidates from thirty two political parties are contesting the 14 House of Representatives seats b

"For House of Assembly seats, six hundred and twenty three (623) candidates from forty nine (49) political parties are contesting the House of Assembly seats. We have five hundred and eleven (511) males and one hundred and twelve females (112)".

INEC while expressing the commitment of the electoral body to conduct free and fair elections in 2019, warned politicians in the state against vote buying.

He said, "The commission also seized the opportunity of the interactive session to intimate politicians about dangers of vote buying which has become a menace in the recent elections in the country. Politicians however were told not to use money to induce voters thereby influencing their informed decisions".

On PVC collection, Agboke said the door has not been closed, noting that those who registered from 2011 and have not collected should visit the office of the commission in all 33 local government areas of the state.

"Let me use this medium to tell the general public that news that INEC has opened window for fresh registration is fake. Fresh registration has been suspended till after the elections. Also, let’s use this opportunity to say that INEC has not closed the door for collection of PVCs.

"Also, I want to tell you that the news that INEC is recruiting Ad-hoc staff is fake. INEC cannot recruit on Facebook or Twitter. Our recruitment is not done on Facebook or Twitter", he stated.