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  • INEC confirms delivering all non-sensitive materials for Bayelsa, Kogi polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has delivered all non-sensitive materials for the governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

    The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure on Thursday in Lagos during the Anniversary Colloquium marking the Press Week of the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the colloquium, organised to mark the second anniversary of the present executive of the state NUJ, was: ”Ensuring Credible Off-season Elections in Nigeria”.

    Yakubu, represented by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said that all the sensitive materials would be delivered one month before the election in November.
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    The INEC Chairman added that the commission had made available for collection all uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), pointing out Sept. 30 was deadline for the exercise.

    Yakubu, however, noted that some concerns of possible violence had been raised about the forthcoming Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections, given the violence that led to the declaration of inconclusive elections in the two states in 2015.

    “Therefore, politicians in Bayelsa and Kogi must shed off the toga of political violence associated with elections in the two states.

    ”The commission will continue to work with security agencies under the auspices of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to provide adequate security for all our elections.

    “Nigerians deserve and should always have free, fair and credible elections. INEC owes the nation and Nigerians a duty to ensure that votes count.

    ” The present commission has demonstrated this commitment in all the elections it has conducted, in spite of multiple challenges.

    “ Ultimately, the commission’s ability to organise credible elections also depend on the cooperation of all stakeholders in the electoral process and the strict adherence to the rules of the game.

    The commission will continue to ensure that votes count,” he noted.

    Also speaking at the coloquom, he Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, said that the media held the potential to revolutionise how Nigeria remedy the shortcoming in her electoral system.

    Also speaking at the colloquium, the Speaker of the Houser of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila ,represented by Mr Tijani Ismail, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, said that there were widely-held views that Nigeria was gradually moving towards an era where the media will exert greater influence on the electoral process.

    He commended the media for enlightening the citizens on elections, noting that due to media efforts, many citizens were now educated about the electoral process.

    The speaker said Nigerian journalists had made the electoral process credible, stressing that journalists could not do it alone and called on other stakeholders to also do their best to strengthen the process.
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    He pointed out that since the resumption of the 8th Assembly, the House had entertained no fewer than 12 bills seeking to amend the provision of the Electoral Act 2010 and the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2015.

    “The credibility of “Off-season” elections and “On Season” elections are fundamentally not different to the extent that legal, institutional and structural impediments exist.

    “The reverse being the obvious case in the absence of such impediments,

    ”The thinning out of manpower on the part of the commission, security agencies, civil society, among other stakeholders in the course of “On Season” elections as compared with its opposite during the conduct of “Off Season” elections presents a microscopic viewing of the latter.

    “However, I must be quick to point out that the success and credibility of an election goes beyond the myriad of eyes fixated on the arena but also the conduct of the stakeholders, the resolve of politicians to not see politics as a do or die affair and many other variables,” he said.

    The chairman of NUJ, Lagos Council, Dr Qasim Akinreti, pointed out the role of journalists in sustaining democracy, including bringing those in authorities to accountability.

    Akinreti said that in line with journalists’ constitutional role in Section 35, 1999 constitution as amended, they were to make government and institutions accountable to the people.

    “We are making INEC and state governors of nine states accountable on their roles in ensuring of a credible off-season elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, Ondo, Anambra, Edo, Ekiti and Osun states.

    “Thus choice of the topic of discussion was carefully chosen to underscore the preparation for the another round of off-season elections in Nigeria and proffering solutions to avalanche of criticisms that have trailed past off-season elections in Nigeria.

    “Our aim is to ensure that votes in Nigeria in the aforementioned states count,” Akinreti said.

    Also speaking, the governor of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, said that something needed to be done to sanitize the political stage and ensure that democracy continued to exist in Nigeria

    The governor, represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr Adeleke Ipaye, said that ballot snatching, under age voting had become regular feature in our elections.

    He said that there was the need to make elections credible as it was the tool to achieve the country’s desired unity, while calling for punishment for electoral offenders.

    Oyetola noted that power belonged to the people, urging the people vote out non performing governments, while security agents must fish out those persons among the political class that encouraged electoral fraud.

    He said the media had big role to ensure credible elections, stressing that there was need to encourage internal democracy and allow the best candidates to emerged during primaries.

  • Kogi NPC Chairman resigns, withdraws from governorship race

    Kogi NPC Chairman resigns, withdraws from governorship race

    Alhaji Muhammed Aliyu, the Kogi Chairman of the Nigeria People’s Congress (NPC) has resigned from the party and withdraws from the Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

    Aliyu announced this in a statement he made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, saying that his action was “with immediate effect”.

    Aliyu, who is also the governorship candidate of the party in the forthcoming gubernatorial election, said that he had sent his letter of resignation to the National Chairman of the party.

    “Among several reasons for my decision, is my desire to continue to maintain the integrity with which I left the public service after 35 years of meritorious service as executive director.

    “I discovered that the political arena is not a place where I can continue to maintain that integrity with unblemished records of service.”

    He thanked NPC for affording him the opportunity to serve.

    (NAN)

  • Pay our 39 months salary arrears, Kogi teachers beg Gov. Bello

    Over 7,000 teachers in public primary and junior secondary schools in Kogi State have appealed to Gov. Yahaya Bello to look into the issue of non-payment of their salary for the past eight to 39 months.

    The Kogi teachers made the appeal in a communique issued at the end an emergency meeting of the Basic Education Staff Association of Nigeria (BASAN) held in Lokoja on Monday .

    The group traced the teachers’ plight to the staff screening exercise the government embarked upon since 2016, lamenting that the affected teachers had turned beggers in order to feed themselves and family members.

    According to BESAN, the affected teachers are among over 23,000 of its members in the state.

    The communique, jointly signed by Mr Onotu Yahaya and Mr Mohammed Sule, Acting Chairman and Secretary of the Kogi State chapter of BESAN, also bemoaned the refusal of the state government to fully implement the N18,000 minimum wage to teachers in the basic education sector.

    Onotu and Sule stated that their counterparts in the senior secondary school cadre and other state government staff had been enjoying the N18,000 minimum wage since Dec. 2011, wondering why teaching and non-teaching staff at the basic education sector were not being fully paid.

    The communique urged the government to put a stop to the payment of 35 to 50 per cent salary to its members, insisting that they deserved full payment of salary like other workers in the state.

    “Several of the basic education staff retirees are yet to access their monthly pensions besides non-payment of their gratuity,” the statement said.

    They expressed worry over what incessant movement of payment of their salary among the State Universal Basic Education Board, local government councils and sometimes, consultants, saying that this had mitigated against efforts to ascertain actual staff strength in the sector.

    It also raised concern over the poor state of basic education infrastructure in schools across the state, warning that the development was an impediment in meeting the desired productive curriculum delivery.

    “We are passionately appealing to Gov. Bello for intervention on the above inflammatory issues for the change mantra of the next level and change of narration of this critical sector of education,” the communique added.

  • Alleged misconduct: Kogi SSG testifies against deputy governor

    Alleged misconduct: Kogi SSG testifies against deputy governor

    The Secretary to the (Kogi) State Government (SSG), Mrs. Folashade Ayoade-Arike, on Monday, entered the witness box to testify at the panel hearing investigating allegations of gross misconduct against the deputy governor of the state, Elder Simon Achuba.

    Others that testified at the panel sitting at the state High Court, Lokoja, included the Acting Director (Treasury), Office of the Accountant General, Mr. Elijah Ebinemi, who presented before the panel, evidence of alleged salaries/allowances payment, to the embattled deputy governor.

    The certified true copies of said payment was said to have covered between 2016 and 2017.

    Also testifying was Saliu Hassan Itopa, Cashier, Office of the Deputy Governor.

    The Chief Judge (CJ) of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah had on August 23, constituted a seven-man panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct raised by the state House of Assembly against the Deputy Governor.

    Members of the panel are: Mr. John Baiyeshea (SAN) (Chairman), Hajia Bilikisu Abdulmalik Basher, Mr. William A. Aliwo, Canon Z. A. Asun, Alhaji Isa Adeboye, Mr. Muhammed A. Aikoye and Mr. Ada Shaibu. Mr. Bamidele Aina, while the Deputy Court Registrar (DCR), Special Duties at the High Court will serve as secretary to the panel.

    The SSG under cross examination by lead counsel to Achuba, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), among others, alleged that the state deputy governor last attended the weekly state executive council meeting, in August 2018.

    She said that she was incompetent to issue query to the deputy governor, the latter being her boss.

    She stated that while it is not under the schedule of the Office of the SSG to pay the salary of the deputy governor, all workers of the state, including the deputy governor and his aides, have however been paid “up-to-date”.

    She said that her office is responsible for the payment of salary to political office holders.

    Under cross examination by Mr. Anthony Adeniyi, lead counsel to state government, Itopa, the cashier in the office of the deputy governor, explained that allowances and other monies, including impress are paid direct into the bank accounts of those concerned.

  • Kogi Elections: FCT Minister Of State Preaches Peace, Unity

    Kogi Elections: FCT Minister Of State Preaches Peace, Unity

    Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has declared that the unity and peaceful coexistence of Kogi State is not negotiable, even as she called for a united force in the forthcoming governorship elections.

    She made the call when a large delegation of Kogi Political Triangle, led by the coordinator, Hon. Adamu Shuiabu, paid her a visit in her office.

    The Minister who emphasized the need to build bridges among the different ethic groups in the state, also acknowledged that peace is a daunting task but achievable, stressing that the state will achieve more under one united body.

    Aliyu, however, called on the people of the state to support the government at the center in order to realize the dreams of the state, observing that Kogi is blessed with ingenious and competent hands.

    She also described women as devotees in nation’s building, while calling on them to use their numerical strength to vote massively for Governor Yahaya Bello, in the forthcoming Kogi governorship race.

    “There is nothing we can achieve without peace. Kogi state is blessed with ingenious and competent men and women. We are doing well in building the nation, and nation building is a collective responsibility.

    “I sincerely believe that Kogi State will be a hub of activities after the second tenure of Governor Yahaya Bello. Kogi State unity is not negotiable. It is not about a political party or ethnicity anymore,

    “We must follow the government at the center to get the dividends of democracy in order to realize the Kogi of our dream. We are stronger in unity. However, I know unity is a daunting task but achievable. Kogi State at this point of our political era needs continuity and consolidation.
    “The Governor is an Ebira man, but serving other ethnic groups without discrimination. It is painful that in recent past, the state suddenly become a shopping center for other political bigwigs to decide who become governor of the state,” she noted.

    On his part, the leader of delegation, Hon. Adamu Shuiabu, said that Kogi Political Triangle came into existence to ensure that ethic and senatorial politics come to a halt, while calling on other groups to promote peace and unity in the state.

    The highpoint of the event was the conferment of matron of Kogi Political Triangle on the Minister of State for FCT by the group.

  • Three suspected kidnappers shot dead in Kogi

    Three suspected kidnappers have been shot dead in Kogi State during a shooting encounter with a combined team of soldiers, policemen and local hunters.

    The state police command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP William Aya, who confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Saturday, said that two of the kidnappers also escaped with gunshot injuries.

    Aya said that the five-man armed kidnappers had, on Sept. 11, kidnapped six persons between Iyamoye and Ekinrinade road in Ijumu Local Government area of the state.

    The kidnappers, who were masked, were said to have, on the said day, kidnapped Chief Ganiyu Popoola, the Elemoh Aran of Omu-Aran, his brother, Dr Sule Popoola, their nephew, a woman and her husband, said to be a medical doctor, and an unidentified victim.

    They were said to be travelling to Lokoja in their separate vehicles when they and another commercial bus ran into a road block mounted by the suspects.

    The driver of the commercial bus was, however, able to quickly manoeuvre his vehicle and escaped with a bullet-shattered windscreen towards Omuo-Oke, a border town between Ekiti and Kogi States.

    The kidnappers, after robbing their victims, later marched them into the nearby thick forest.

    Popoola, one of the victims, who spoke with NAN, said that the kidnappers took them to their hideouts where they were detained for hours before they released him, his brother and the only woman among them.

    He said that they were given instructions to go and look for ransom to secure the release of others.

    Before releasing them, Popoola, who spoke on the telephone, said that their captors took their phone numbers and returned their handsets to them.

    He said that they trekked for hours before finding their way out of the forest and came out at a spot at Egbeda-Egga community.

    On coming out, Popoola said that they sighted two policemen on leg patrol and some other people who they narrated their ordeal to.

    He said that it was while doing this that some armed soldiers, led by a major, came to join them, saying that the soldiers were informed of the incident by the driver of the commercial bus who was lucky to escape.

    Popoola said that the soldiers, numbering about five, the two policemen and the head of local hunters in Egbeda-Egga, led them back to the kidnappers’ hideouts.

    He said that the head of local hunters, being familiar with the terrain, asked them some questions, and with answers given to him, was able to lead them to the hideouts with ease.

    On sighting them, he said that the kidnappers opened fire, adding that the security agents immediately engaged them in a fierce gun duel during which three of the kidnappers were killed, while two others escaped with gunshot wounds.

    The soldiers were said to have carried the corpses of the kidnappers to Iyara divisional police station and also handed over two rifles, one AK-47 and a pump action, to the policemen on duty.

    In addition, Aya said that a sum of N57,510 and five different telephone handsets were found on them.

  • Kogi poll: Melaye distances self as 10 PDP aspirants declare support for Wada

    Kogi poll: Melaye distances self as 10 PDP aspirants declare support for Wada

    Ten PDP governorship aspirants, who lost the bid for the party’s ticket to contest the Nov. 16 Kogi governorship race, have declared their support for the winner, Mr Musa Wada.

    The 10 aspirants, under the aegis of Kogi PDP 2019 G-12, declared their support for Wada at a press briefing held at the party secretariat on Friday in Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the aspirants who signed the text included Idris Wada, Emmanuel Omebije, Grace Adejoh, Dr Joseph Erico, Alhaji Kabiru Haruna, Adebayo Averehi, Mr Mohammed Tettes, and Aminu Sulaiman.

    Others included AVM Salifu Atawodi (rtd), and Victor Adoji, whose signatures were on the list but who were not physically present at the briefing, with Tettes, who read the text, explaining that the duo had traveled out of the country.

    “Atawodi and Adoji have traveled out of the country. But before they left, they declared their support for Wada as their preferred candidate,” he said.

    NAN reports that the names of two other aspirants – Sen. Dino Melaye and Abubakar Ibrahim – were absent from the list

    “We have all resolved to work with Wada in the interest of the party and the people of the state after undertaking a postmortem analysis and empirical review of the Sept. 3 primary election which led to the emergence of Wada as PDP candidate in the State.

    “In the course of the review, the two major unforeseen events which nearly cast doubts on the integrity of the exercise were thoroughly considered and evaluated.

    “We reviewed the two events – a heavy downpour and a sudden outbreak of violence and gunshots – and sought advice from relevant professionals and members of PDP, including delegates to the primary.

    “After extensive deliberations, the group resolved to accept the decision of the Chairman of the Elections Committee, Gov. Ahmed Fintiri, which produced Wade as PDP candidate.

    “As members of the Kogi PDP 2019 G-12, the urgent need for intra-party cohesion and unity of purpose at this critical moment is recognised.

    “It is for this reason that the candidacy of Wada is considered worthy of undivided support so that the task of rebuilding Kogi can start in earnest.

    “The role of the National Working Committee of our great party, led by Prince Uche Secondus, in positioning the Kogi State chapter for victory in November, is fully acknowledged.

    “The Kogi PDP 2019 G-12 is also aware of the various roles that have been played so far by various stakeholders in stabilising the political space in Kogi State.

    “While some of these efforts to totally stabilise the party are still in progress, the Kogi PDP 2019 G-12 remains unflinchingly committed to the candidacy of Wada.

    “Considering the reconciliation efforts of Wada and his preparedness to actively partner with 2019 PDP aspirants in Kogi State, this group, without reservation, accepts him as a partner in progress in the liberation struggle.

    “We accept to work with him in the overall interest of the PDP and Kogi State,” he said.

    Tettes notified leaders and coordinators of the various political structures of individual aspirants to forthwith make themselves available as willing ambassadors of PDP across the state and grassroots mobilisers for Wada.

    Secondus, while commending the aspirants for their decision, pledged that the party was committed to a free, fair, credible and transparent election.

    Secondus, represented by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, said that the people of Kogi were determined to ensure that the PDP emerged victorious during the governorship election.

    “Kogi State is the natural home of the PDP; the people are ready and determined to make a
    change in this election. The party will support INEC to ensure a free and fair, credible election.

    “We are not deterred by all the rumour going around. The reconciliation process of the party continues.

    “If there are one or two persons who should be party to your team, the party will engage such
    individuals and aspirants to make sure that all the aspirants that ran the primary come together and support our candidate,” he said.

  • Kogi poll: INEC clears Yahaya Bello, Wada, 49 others [Full List]

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 51 candidates and their deputies to contest the Nov. 16 governorship election in Kogi.

    The names of the cleared candidates and their details were on Friday made public in Lokoja by the INEC.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five of those cleared as governorship candidates are women while the rest are men.

    It was also observed that seven women were cleared to contest the election as deputy governors.

    Those cleared to contest the election include the incumbent governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Musa Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mrs Justina Abanida od the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    Also given the nod to contest tue governorship election are Miss Natadha Akppti of the SDP, Mr Ibrahim Itodo of ZLP, Mr Idris Abegunde of NNPP, Mr Abu Omogani, UPC, Abdulahi Mohammed, Accord Party, Mr Abdulmalik Mohammed, HDP , Mr Shaibu Sani Teidi, YDP and Me Dele Bello-Williams of the GDPN.

    Others are Mr Umar Zekeri ABP, Mr Chinga David, YPP, Mr Ndako Tanko, ADP, Mr Kabir Abdulwasiu, AAC, Mr Abdulhamid Yusuf, AAP, Mrs Anne Oluwaseun , DPC, Mr Danjuma Mohammed, MRDD, Mr Mohammed Dangana, NCP, Mr Alonge Methusela, Mega Party, Mr Niyi Ejibunu, AGAP, Mr Abdulrazak Emeje, UDP, and Mr Godwin Atawodi, DA.

    Me Ephraim Medupin, AD, Mr Musa Sadiq, APP, Mr Victor Akubo, UPP, Mrs Harirat Yakibu, LP, Mr Alfa Oboy, JMPP, Mr Atiku Isah, ANP, Mr Ayodele Ajibola, PRP, , Sheik Ibrahim Jibril, APGA, Mr Samuel Abolarin, ASD, Mr Okpanachi Nichol, KOWA, Rev. Moses Dridu, PPN, Mr Ikwueje Samuel, PDC, and Mr Jimoh Yusuf, MAJA, were also cleared for the election.

    The INEC also cleared Mr Orugun Emmanuel of ANRP, Mrs Grace Adepoju, MMN, Mr Idris Isah, CAP, Mr Sule Daniel, SNG, , Mr Mohammed Aliu, NPC, Mr Noah Abiodun, PPA, Mr Obagaye Raphael, BNPP, Mr Yisuf Dantale, APM, Mr Usman Imam, DP, Mr Victor Akubo, GPN, Mr Ukuwonu Joseph, PPN, Mr Elegbe Amos, PDC, Mr Usman Salifu, ANDP and Mr Yusuf Nagari of APA.

  • Bayelsa, Kogi guber candidates face disqualification

    Bayelsa, Kogi guber candidates face disqualification

    Some governorship and deputy-governorship candidates in the November 16 elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States might get disqualified by the Independent and National Electoral Commission (INEC) over their age.

    It is expected that the personal particulars of candidates nominated by political parties for the elections would be published on Friday (today) September 13, as INEC’s chairman on Information and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye said on Thursday, September 12, that the affected parties will be notified soon.

    Okoye said, “The personal particulars of the nominees will be published on the notice boards of our offices in Yenagoa and Lokoja. As required by law, the commission monitored the primaries of the political parties and the list of candidates who emerged has since been published on our website and other platforms.

    “From our records, 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa State as against 59 in Kogi State. Out of these, 52 political parties for Bayelsa and 49 for Kogi, respectively, submitted the list of candidates and their personal particulars at the close of nomination at 6pm on Monday, September 9, 2019.

    “While some of the political parties that conducted primaries did not submit any list and personal particulars of candidates, a few failed to submit within the time limit prescribed by the commission.”

    There are 52 Governorship candidates in Bayelsa state of which six are female and 46 are male. In Kogi, there are 49 governorship candidates of which four are female and 45 are male.

    Some of the Governorship candidates, however, risk disqualification as their ages are below the constitutional age for the office.

    He added, “The commission has observed from a preliminary review of the list and personal particulars submitted by the political parties that some of the governorship and deputy-governorship candidates are below the minimum age prescribed by the constitution for these positions.

    “The commission will notify the concerned parties soon and subsequently consider further action.

    “As we continue to prepare for the Bayelsa and Kogi governorship elections scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2019, the commission once more reminds the political parties of the timelines in the timetable and schedule of activities and requests strict compliance with them.”

  • INEC to publish names, particulars of candidates for Bayelsa, Kogi polls Friday

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to publish names of candidates and their particulars for Bayelsa and Kogi governorship polls on Friday 13th September 2019, it was learnt.

    52 parties submitted list of nominated candidates for Bayelsa State while 49 parties submitted for Kogi.

    INEC monitored Sixty-four political party primaries in Bayelsa and 59 in Kogi.

    The publication of the list and particulars according to Mr. Festus Okoye, National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee is in accordance “with the Electoral Act and in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Bayelsa State and Kogi State Governorship elections”.

    Okoye also stated in a statement that the personal particulars of the nominees ” will be published on the notice boards of our offices in Yenagoa and Lokoja.”

    He also urged the parties to comply with the guideline and schedule activities.

    “As we continue to prepare for the Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship elections scheduled for Saturday 16th November 2019, the Commission once more reminds the political parties of the timelines in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities and requests strict compliance with them. We look forward to working with the parties and all stakeholders to make the forthcoming elections in the two States free, fair and credible,” he stated.

    The National Commissioner also explained that as required by law, the Commission monitored the primaries of the political parties and the list of aspirants who emerged has since been published

    “From our records, 64 political parties conducted primaries in Bayelsa State as against 59 in Kogi State. Out of these, 52 political parties for Bayelsa State and 49 for Kogi state respectively submitted the list of candidates and their personal particulars at the close of nomination at 6 pm on Monday 9th September 2019. While some of the political parties that conducted primaries did not submit any list and personal particulars of candidates, a few failed to submit within the time limit prescribed by the Commission. Out of the 101 nominees for the two States, 91 are male, representing 90%, while 10 are female, representing 10% of all the nominees. Of the 52 nominees for Bayelsa State, 6 are female, while 46 are male. The corresponding figures for Kogi State are 4 female and 45 male nominees.

    “The publication of the personal particulars of nominees is for members of the public to make any claims and objections regarding these candidates, as required by law. Similarly, the Commission has observed from a preliminary review of the list and personal particulars submitted by the political parties that some of the Governorship and Deputy-Governorship candidates are below the minimum age prescribed by the Constitution for these positions. The Commission will notify the concerned parties soon and subsequently consider further action,” he said.