2023: LP, NNPP Fail To Sponsor Candidates For 5 Gov’ship, 159 N/Assembly Seats
Despite the strong showings of the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, both parties have large national elections, especially in the National Assembly, where they would not be fielding candidates.
While the LP would not be fielding any candidate in one state, the NNPP would be missing in the governorship contest in four states.
In the Senate, the NNPP would not have a candidate in one Senatorial zone, unlike the LP which would not be having candidates in 28 senatorial zones.
Both parties also have dozens of House of Representatives seats which they would not be contesting for in the 2023 elections, with NNPP recording two and the LP 128.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on September 20, 2022 released the final list of candidates standing nominated for Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, Senatorial and House of Representative Candidates.
It also on October 4, 2022 released the final list of candidates standing nominated in relation to state elections (governorship, deputy governorship and state assemblies).
The 2023 general elections are slated for 25 February for president and vice president as well as National Assembly; while 11 March would be the turn of the governorship and state Houses of Assemblies respectively.
The quartet of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Labour Party (LP), contrary to expectations, have large numbers of slots that would not be filled for the elections.
The National Assembly being a bicameral legislature established under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution consists of 109 Senatorial and 360 House of Representatives seats.
While there are statutory three senators from each of the nation’s 36 states to guarantee equal representation, the FCT has one senatorial seat; however, there is a single-member district or constituency in the House of Representatives to accommodate the population and demographic distribution in the states.
Governorship
The LP would not be vying for the governorship seat in Ogun State; while the NNPP would be missing in the governorship contest in four states of Borno, Cross River, Kebbi and Zamfara.
Senate
In the upper chamber of the National Assembly, the NNPP would not fielding a candidate in Jigawa North senatorial district; while the LP would be missing in senatorial contest actions in 28 senatorial districts.
The districts are Bauchi North; Bayelsa East and Bayelsa West; all three zones on Borno State; Delta North and Delta Central; Ekiti State; Jigawa South West and Jigawa North West; Katsina State, Kebbi State; Kogi West; Lagos State; Niger North; Ondo Central and Ondo South; Sokoto North, Yobe North and Yobe East.
House of Representatives
In Abia State, the LP will be missing in Arochukwu/Ohafia. It will also be missing in some constituencies in Bauchi State, including Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa, Darazo/Ganjuwa, Gamawa, Jama’are/Itas/Gadau, Katagum, Misau/Damban, Ningi/Warji, Shira/Giade, Toro, and Zaki federal constituencies.
In Bayelsa State, the LP is not fielding any candidate in Yenagoa/Kolokuna/Opokuma constituency.
In Borno State, the LP is also not contesting in eight constituencies of Biu/Kwaya-Kusar, Shani/Bayo, Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok, Dikwa/Mafa/Konduga, Jere, Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri, Kukawa/Mobbar/Abadam/ Guzamali, and Maiduguri (Metropolitan).
In Cross River State, NNPP will be missing in Calabar South/Akpabuyo/ Bakassi; while the LP will not be contesting in Ogoja/Yala; and Yakurr/Abi federal cionstituencies.
Same is applicable in Delta State where the LP is not contesting in Burutu and Ethiope East/Ethiope West federal constituencies; while NNPP will be missing in only Ndokwa East/Ndokwa West/Ukwuani.
In Edo State, the LP is not contesting in Esan Central/Esan South/ Igueben.
The LP will not be contesting in six constituencies of Ekiti State: Ado Ekiti/Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ekiti South West/Ikere/Orun/ Ise, Emure/Gbonyin/Ekiti East, Ido/Osi, Moba/Ilejeme, Ijero/Ekiti West/Efon, and Ikole/Oye.
The party will also not contest in one constituency of Kaltungo/Shongom in Gombe State.
In Jigawa State, the LP will not field candidates in seven constituencies of Birnin Kudu/Buji, Dutse/Kiyawa, Gumel/Maigatari/Sule/Tankarkar/Gagarawa, Gwaram, Jahun/Miga, Ringim/Taura, and Jema’a/Sanga.
The LP will also be missing in action in seven constituencies of Kaduna State being Ikara/Kubau, Jema’a/Sanga, Kachia/Kagarko, Kaduna South, Lere, Zangon Kataf/Jaba, and Zaria.
In Kano State, the LP will not contest in five federal constituencies of Bebeji/Kiru, Doguwa/Tudun Wada, Gezawa/Gabasawa, Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya, and Sumaila/Takai.
While the LP is missing in all the senatorial zones in Katsina State, it will also be missing in 14 federal constituencies of Batagarawa/Charanchi/Rimi, Batsari/Safana/Danmusa, Bindawa/Mani, Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua, Dutsin-ma/Kurfi, Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa, Funtua/Dandume, Ingawa/Kankia/Kusada, Jibia/Kaita, Katsina, Malumfashi/Kafur, Mashi/Dutsi, Matazu/Musawa and Zango/Baure.
In Kebbi State, the LP will not be fielding candidates in eight constituencies of Aleiro/Gwandu/Jega, Arewa/Dandi, Argungu/Augie, Bagudo/Suru, Bunza/Birnin Kebbi/Kalgo, Fakai/Sakaba/Wasagu/Danko/Zuru, Koko-Besse/Maiyama and Ngaski/Shanga/Yauri.
The LP will not equally contest in three constituencies of Kogi (Lokoja)/Kogi (Koton Karfe), Okene/Ogori-Magogo, and Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopamuro of Kogi State.
Despite the strong showing of its presidential flagbearer, Mr. Peter Obi, the LP will not contest 24 constituencies in Lagos State comprising Agege, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ibeju Lekki, Ifako/Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Lagos Island I, Lagos Island II, Lagos Mainland, Mushin I, Mushin II, Ojo, Oshodi/Isolo I, Oshodi/Isolo II, Shomolu, Surulere I and Surulere II respectively.
In Niger State, the LP will be missing in contest in Agaie/Lapai, Agwara/Borgu, Bida/Gbako/Katcha, Booso/Paikoro, Chanchaga, Lavun/Mokwa/Edati and Magama/Rijau.
The LP in Ondo State will not contest in seven constituencies of Akoko North East/Akoko North West, Akoko South East/Akoko South West, Akure North/Akure South, Eseodo/Ilaje, Idanre/Ifedore, Ileoluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo, Okitipupa/Irele, Ondo East/Ondo West and Owo/Ose.
The party (LP) will also not contest in four constituencies of Jos North/Bassa, Kanke/Pankshin/Kanam, Mikang/Qua’an/Pan/Shedam, and Wase in Plateau State.
The LP has two constituencies in Sokoto State being Goronyo/Gada and Illela/Gwadabawa where it will not contest.
There are also five constituencies in Yobe State of Bursari/Geidam/Yunusari, Damaturu/Gujba/Gulani/Tarmuwa, Fika/Fune, Machina/Nguru/Yusufari/Karasuwa and Nangere/Potiskm where it will not contest.
Zamfara State has three federal constituencies of Anka/Talata Mafara, Bakura/Maradun, and Shinkafi/Zurmi where the LP will not contest for House of Representatives elections.
