Despite his defection to the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said a former governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, remains the senatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Shekarau, who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from NNPP on August 29, was on Tuesday listed as the candidate of the NNPP for Kano Central by INEC.
The electoral body had on Tuesday published its final list of nominated presidential and national assembly candidates for the February 25 elections.
While announcing his defection, Shekarau said he had written to INEC and NNPP to announce his withdrawal from the senatorial race for Kano Central under the NNPP.
But when contacted yesterday, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the former governor remained the candidate of the NNPP for Kano Central senatorial district.
“By our Timetable and Schedule of Activities released on the 26th February 2022, July 15, 2022, was stipulated as the last day for withdrawal and replacement of National Assembly candidates. The former governor of Kano State allegedly withdrew his candidature on the 26th day of August 2022.” Okoye told Daily Trust in an interview.
“The implication is that he remains and will remain the candidate of the NNPP. His name will be on the ballot on Election Day as a candidate of the NNPP for his senatorial district.
“After July 15, 2022, a candidate can only be replaced as a result of death or through judicial intervention as the window for withdrawals has closed,” he said.
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