The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared only three political parties to participate in the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election slated for June 20, effectively shutting out the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and other parties that failed to meet the nomination requirements.

The parties cleared by the commission are the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is fielding Chief Ikeje Asogwa; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), represented by Chief Nestor Ezeme; and the BOOT Party (BP), whose candidate is Mr Chukwuebuka Aneke.

Speaking on the development in Enugu weekend, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, disclosed that only the APC, PDP and BP successfully complied with the deadline for the submission of nomination forms and supporting documents through the INEC Nomination Portal.

He explained that June 2 was the deadline approved in INEC’s timetable for the submission of Forms EC9, EC9C and other nomination documents for the by-election.

“At the close of nominations, three political parties successfully submitted the required nomination forms in respect of candidates they intend to sponsor for the by-election.

“The political parties are APC, BOOT Party (BP) and PDP,” Chukwu said.

The development means that parties such as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which had earlier indicated interest in the contest, will not participate in the by-election after failing to meet INEC’s June 2 deadline for the submission of nomination forms and other required documents through the commission’s nomination portal.

According to the REC, the commission has processed the nomination documents submitted by the three parties in line with Sections 29(3) and 32(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended).

He added that INEC had consequently published the Forms EC9 (Personal Particulars of Candidates) and the final list of nominated candidates for the June 20 by-election in compliance with the Electoral Act and the commission’s approved timetable of activities.

Chukwu urged members of the public interested in scrutinising the particulars of the candidates to visit the commission’s notice board at the Enugu State headquarters during official working hours.

Reaffirming the commission’s commitment to transparency and due process, the REC assured political parties, candidates and other stakeholders of a level playing field throughout the electoral process.

The Enugu North Senatorial District by-election will be conducted across 1,488 polling units in six local government areas: Nsukka, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Udenu, Igbo-Etiti and Uzo-Uwani.