73 candidates vying for presidency in Nigeria's poll

Nigeria's electoral body on Friday green-lighted 73 presidential candidates to run for the February presidency against incumbent President Muhammodu Buhari.

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said in the Nigerian capital of Abuja that a total of 73 political parties fielded nominations as of the deadline for withdrawal and substitution of candidates for the election.

The commission had earlier announced 79 candidates at the close of submission of nomination forms in October.

"For National Assembly elections, a total of 1,848 candidates (1,615 males and 233 females) are vying for 109 Senatorial seats, while 4,635 candidates (4,066 males and 569 females) are competing for the 360 seats in the House of Representatives," said Yakubu.

He told reporters that the full list of candidates and their political parties would be published for public information in line with the commission's timetable and schedule of activities.

The chairman said the commission would be committed to free, fair and credible elections and maintain its neutrality as the umpire, registrar and regulator of political parties.

He added that the commission had successfully implemented seven out of 17 activities toward the conduct of the 2019 General Elections.

Nigeria will hold its presidential election in February 2019.