Ebonyi State governor, Engr. Dave Umahi, has been listed as the All Progressives Congress, APC, senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South district in the final list for the 2023 National Assembly elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday.
Also listed is the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, as the All Progressives Congress senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North West.
The listing of Umahi and Akpabio on INEC’s final list signals an end to the controversy surrounding their nominations by the APC.
Both candidates, had been battling over the rightful ticket bearers of the APC with others.
Their names were contained in a press release signed by the commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye.
Okoye, explained that the commission included the names of Messrs Umahi and Akpabio in compliance to different court orders mandating it to do so.
However, Senate President Ahmad Lawan may have lost out in his bid to return to the red chamber following the omission of his name from the list. INEC, did not list anyone for the APC in Lawan’s Yobe North district.
Lawan has been in contention with fellow APC stalwart Bashir Machina over who is the authentic candidate.
Meanwhile, INEC is expected to publish final list of candidates for State elections (Governorship and State Constituencies) on 4th October 2022.