The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has debunked claims by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that it received the list of candidates from Zamfara State for the 2019 general elections.

The electoral body had disqualified APC from fielding candidates from Zamfara State on the grounds that the party did not conduct primary elections in the state within the stipulated time in its guidelines.

This is even as the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lanre Isa-Onilu had told newsmen  that the party submitted candidates for all positions in all states of the federation, including Zamfara.

However, according to INEC’s National Commissioner on Voter Education and Information, Mr. Festus Okoye, the electoral body did not receive the list of candidates from Zamfara State from the ruling party.

Okoye said based on the provisions of Section 31 and 87 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), the commission did not expect that the APC would submit names of any candidates from Zamfara State.

 

“For clarity, our position is that the APC will not be fielding candidates for the governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections in Zamfara State for the 2019 for the general elections.

“There are two matters relating to the party primary election conducted in Zamfara State pending before the State High court and Federal High Court in Zamfara. Those two matters are yet to be decided.

 

“So APC did not submit any list from Zamfara and INEC did not release any list of candidates from Zamfara,” Okoye added.