For the upcoming presidential election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, has made clear its stance on candidate substitution.
According to reports, the majority of the presidential contenders filed what is known as space or peacekeepers to the electoral umpire.
The term implies that these vice presidential candidates would eventually be replaced because they were presented in order to beat the Electoral Act’s deadline.
While Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, beat the deadline and named Ifeanyi Okowa, the governor of Delta State, as his running mate, other candidates, like those from the Labour Party and the All Progressives Congress, are yet to choose their running mates.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a candidate for the APC, offered the name of Aminu Bello Masari, the governor of Katsina State, while Peter Obi, a candidate for the LP, provided the name of Doyin Okupe, the director-general of his campaign.
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Festus Okoye, the INEC’s National Commissioner of Information and Voter Education, also stated during an appearance on Arise TV on Monday morning that the running mates can only be replaced if they write to the Commission and include a sworn affidavit.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reports that the presidential candidates have filed their associates to run alongside them in the presidential election. According to the legislation, a presidential contender must select an associate to run alongside them.
“As far as we are concerned, the presidential candidate did not submit any forms that stated they were doing so as placeholders for other candidates.
According to him, the concept of a “space or place holder” is a uniquely Nigerian innovation that has no place in our legal system or constitution.
The stance of the legislation as of today has not altered, and political party candidates have submitted the names of associates to run alongside them.
