IFA returning officer and acting chair Jer Bergin said in a statement issued after the deadline for nominations this Wednesday that "the rules committee will meet this evening to consider the situation for the Connacht regional chairman position".

Candidates for this position must receive the backing of their own county and at least another one in the region. At the latest count, Galway had nominated Tom Turley, Mayo Padraig Joyce and Sligo Eddie Davitt, while John O'Beirne was the only candidate nominated by the required two county executives − his own Roscommon and Leitrim.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that some county executives have been lobbying others to change their nomination and allow a second candidate into the race.

The lack of clarity in the final standings constitutes the "situation" on the agenda of Wednesday evening's rules committee meeting.

Three candidates confirmed for deputy president

In the race for deputy president, IFA Kildare chair Pat Farrell has been nominated by Kildare, Dublin, Offaly, Wicklow, Wexford and West Cork.

Former IFA dairy committee chair Richard Kennedy has been nominated by Limerick, Donegal, Clare, North Cork, Waterford and Kilkenny.

IFA national poultry committee chair Nigel Renaghan has been nominated by Monaghan, Louth, Leitrim, Cavan, Meath and Westmeath.

Two-man race in Munster

Two candidates are in the running for the position of Munster chair. John Coughlan from North Cork has been nominated by his own county executive and the West Cork and Tipperary North chairs.

John O’Brien from Cork Central has been nominated by his own county executive and the Waterford and Tipperary South chairs.

Stewart and Murphy unopposed

Outgoing Ulster/North Leinster regional chair Bert Stewart is the only candidate in that region. He has been nominated by Monaghan, Longford and Meath.

Outgoing South Leinster chair James Murphy is also the only candidate in that region. He has been nominated by Kilkenny, Offaly and Wexford. This means PJ Jones, who was backed by Dublin, failed to secure the additional nominations required to run.

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Full coverage: IFA elections 2016