One Ph.D., one Master Degree holder, three BSc holders, three LL.B. holders, and one Person with Disability (PWD) are among the 17 governorship candidates who will take part in the November 11 Imo State governorship election.
The Electoral Act, however, stipulates that the First School Leaving Certificate, F.L.S.C., is the minimum educational requirement to aspire for public office in Nigeria.
According to records obtained from the official portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, James Okoroma of the Africa Democratic Party, ADP, is the only candidate with a Ph.D.
Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Tony Ejiogu, holds a Masters Degree.
Governorship candidates of the Action Alliance, AA, General Jack Ogunewe (retd), Awulonou Ifeanyi of the Africa Action Congress, AAC, and Achilike Obieze of the APP have LL.B.
Senator Samuel Anyanwu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ekwebelem Prince of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Edoziem Clinton of the APM do have a B.Sc.
Steve Nwoga of the ADP holds an MB and a BS.
Other candidates possess the minimum First School Leaving Certificate, F.S.L.C., West Africa Examination, WAEC, or G.C.E. equivalent.
INEC, however, did not provide information about the schools or higher institutions where the candidates obtained their educational certificates or qualifications.
Further findings show that all 17 governorship candidates are male, with none female.
Two political parties, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Action Democratic Congress, ADC, fielded female deputy governorship candidates.
Mrs. Chinyere Ekomaru, a female, is the running mate to Governor Hope Uzodimma of the APC, while Vivian Ottih is the deputy governorship candidate of the AD governorship candidate, Kachi Nwoga.
One of the candidates was listed as a person with a disability (PWD).
