Two names, two parties: oddities in Edo's candidate list
The electoral commission's final list for the state assembly shows two men standing for both the PDP and the APM. Fewer than one candidate in ten is a woman.
Benin City — Two candidates appear under two different parties in the electoral commission's final list for next year's Edo State House of Assembly election, the News Agency of Nigeria reports, as carried by Premium Times.
The list, released by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Benin, has 164 entries for the state's 24 constituencies. An analysis by the agency found:
- Ogbebor Samson Osemudiamen listed for both the Allied Peoples Movement and the Peoples Democratic Party in Esan North East II;
- Usman William Idenobe listed for the same two parties in Etsako East.
The agency says it is not clear whether this is an error in the list, a problem with nominations, or something else.
What the commission says
The commission's spokesperson in Edo, Toyin Buoro, said the office had noticed the same entries and that the list was as sent from headquarters. The matter has been referred there.
Nine men for every woman
The same list shows how few women are standing. Of the 164 candidates, 148 are men and 16 are women, or 9.76%.
The Social Democratic Party has the most, with four. The ADP has three and the Labour Party two. Seven other parties, including the All Progressives Congress and the PDP, have one each.
Two of the women are sitting members seeking a second term: Maria Edeko of the APC, in Esan North East II, and Natasha Osawaru of the NDC, in Egor.
This report is based on reporting by the News Agency of Nigeria, via Premium Times.
