The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday, June 10, 2022, has opened the door for the submission of party candidates by July 15. INEC plans to nominate candidates for the presidency and the federal parliament from June 10 to June 17.
The names of the candidates for governor and state legislators will be announced from July 1 to July 15.
INEC announced on its Twitter feed on Wednesday that “All candidates’ names must be posted on the official website before the deadline expires.”
INEC spokesperson Zainab Aminu Abubakar said the commission had urged the parties to abide by the rules laid down in the nomination process to avoid a run-off.
“We expect the political parties to ensure that the names they submit to the electoral commission are such that they are obtained through free and fair elections,” said Zainab Aminu.
She emphasized that there was no question of extending the deadline for candidates, unlike in the run-off election.
“We expect all political parties to use the deadline to do the right thing.
She added: “As we are constantly insisting that something change in the election schedule, it could also change something in the future, scheduled for this 2023 election schedule,” she said.
The parties are currently in talks with stakeholders to decide who will support them in the general election.
“For the sake of clarity, the commission would like to remind the parties that only the successful candidates in a credible manner in the by-elections, as provided for in section 84 of the 2022 election law, should be submit their names. “
“Also, the names of the presidential and governorship candidates will be submitted along with their deputies, otherwise the contest will be canceled altogether,” INEC said.
The process of filling out the nomination forms
Given that the candidates would submit their forms online, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu assured the parties that INEC would provide them with all the assistance they needed, as long as they did not get in trouble.
But he emphasized that there was no question of extending the deadline from June 17 to presidential and parliamentary candidates, and July 15 to governorship and state legislators.
The department manager said the software used to send the form, which has been in place since the Edo and Ondo elections in 2020, has been redesigned.
Considering the nature of the country’s society, the election of a vice-presidential candidate is very influential in winning elections at the presidential level.