The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the submission of governorship candidates by seven parties in various states of the federation.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the submission of governorship candidates by seven parties in various states of the federation.
The parties and the states affected are: Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in Delta; Labour Party in Niger; New Nigeria Peoples Party in Ogun; Unity Party of Nigeria in Oyo; United Democratic Party in Rivers; and Peoples Democratic Movement in Sokoto and Zamfara States respectively.
In a Decision Extract issued and signed by the Director (Commission’s Secretariat), Ishiaku A. Gali, the Commission also approved that the House of Representatives election in Ado/Opoku/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State being uncontested, the Returning Officer should declare the nominated candidate elected on the day of the election.Section 187 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that a candidate to the office of a Governor shall not be deemed to be validly nominated for such office unless he appoints another candidate as his running mate who shall occupy the office of Deputy Governor.Similarly, Section 41 (1) of the amended Act provides:
“If after expiration of time for delivering of nomination papers, withdrawal of candidates and the extension of time as provided for in this Act there is only one person whose name is validly nominated in respect of an election, other than to the office of the President or Governor, that person shall be declared elected.”