2027: INEC duplicates names of candidates across some political parties

The duplication of candidates’ names across political parties has emerged as a notable feature of the final list of candidates for the 2027 Edo State House of Assembly election.

An analysis of the 164 entries on the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin identified two candidates whose names appear under two different political parties.

The candidates appeared under both the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the same constituencies, raising questions about the status of their nominations.

The affected candidates are Ogbebor Samson Osemudiamen, listed under both parties in Esan North East II, and Usman William Idenobe, listed under the APM and PDP in Etsako East.

The appearance of their names under different political platforms raises questions about whether the entries reflect an error in the published list, a nomination-related issue or another circumstance requiring clarification.

INEC’s final list is a key document in the electoral process because it identifies the candidates cleared to contest the election across the state’s 24 assembly constituencies.

When contacted, Toyin Buoro, INEC’s Public Relations Officer in Edo, acknowledged that the office had also observed the entries.

Mrs Buoro noted, however, that the observation had been referred to the appropriate authorities at INEC headquarters.

“Our observation too, but that was what was sent from the headquarters, and we have drawn the attention of the appropriate quarters to it, awaiting their reply,” she said.

Gender imbalance

Beyond the questions surrounding the duplicated names, the list also reveals a substantial gender imbalance in the race.

Of the 164 candidates counted, 148 are men, representing 90.24 per cent, while only 16 are women, accounting for 9.76 per cent.

This means about nine male candidates for every female candidate.

The figures indicate that women remain significantly underrepresented among those seeking seats in the state legislature, despite years of advocacy for greater female participation in elective politics.

A breakdown of the 16 female candidates by party shows the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has the most, with four women, followed by the Action Democratic Party (ADP) with three.

The Labour Party (LP) has two female candidates. In contrast, the All Progressives Congress (APC), PDP, Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), and APM each have one female candidate.

For the APC, the female candidate is Maria Edeko, aged 63, contesting the Esan North East II seat in the state assembly for a second term.

The PDP’s female candidate is Uyigue Efosa, aged 61, contesting in Ovia North East I. Meanwhile, the NDC has Natasha Osawaru, aged 32, contesting the Egor seat for a second term.

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The SDP, which has four women on the list, has Kemi Akerele in Akoko Edo I, Shirley Negbedion in Esan North East I, Imuetinyan Bright in Egor and Tracy Ogiemwanye in Ikpoba-Okha.

The ADP’s three female candidates are Bukky Ayetan in Egor, Osarenkhoe Erhunmwunse in Ikpoba-Okha and Patience Edobor in Orhionmwon I.

The figures show that women are contesting across different political platforms and constituencies, but their overall share remains below 10 per cent of the candidates listed.

(NAN)