Following Dr. Oby Ezekwesili’s declaration to step down from the 2019 presidential race earlier today, Thursday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is too late for any candidate to withdraw from contesting any position in the upcoming elections.
INEC said this while reacting to the withdrawal of Oby Ezekwesili as presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN)
Ezekwesili announced her withdrawal today via a tweet on her twitter handle, saying she wanted to give room for a coalition against candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reacting via a statement, Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, said November 17, 2018 was the last date for withdrawal.
According to him, Section 35 of the electoral act, which gives deadline from withdrawal from any election, states: “A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered by himself to the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such withdrawal to the Commission not later than 45 days to the election.”
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