Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the time for withdrawals and substitution has lapsed and no candidate can go out or come in except in cases of the death of a candidate.
The electoral body said the implication of this is that the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, remains the senatorial candidate of the New Nigeria People Party (NNPP).
The national commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Festus Okoye disclosed this while speaking exclusively with LEADERSHIP yesterday in Lagos.
Okoye said NNPP would be on the ballot with Shekarau’s name as its candidate.
He said NNPP wrote to the Commission on 30th August, 2022 relating to the defection of the former governor from the NNPP to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said the commission responded to the letter on the same day and intimated the party of the fact that it is too late in the day for any candidate to withdraw and for any candidate to be replaced.
Okoye said Section 33 and section 29 of the Electoral Act 2022 as well as the Timetable and Schedule of Activities of the Commission are clear and unambiguous.
He continued, “Political parties are obligated to submit the names and personal particulars of candidates that emerged from valid primaries.
“Section 33 of the Act provides that political parties shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission except in case of death or withdrawal by the candidate.”
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