By Ahmed Abubakar
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the substitution of governorship candidates by seven parties in different states of the federation.
This was contained in the commission’s Monday edition of its bulletin stating that some states have requested for the commission to grant them the request to substitute the names of candidates earlier submitted too it.
According to the bulletin, the parties and the states affected are: Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in Delta state; Labour Party in Niger state; New Nigeria Peoples Party in Ogun state; Unity Party of Nigeria in Oyo state; United Democratic Party in Rivers state; 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 has also approved that the House of Representatives election in Ado/Opoku/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue state, being uncontested, the nominated candidate should be declared elected on the day of the election by the returning officer.
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.
Also, Section 41 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that: “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.”
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