INEC disqualifies Seven Governorship Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the leadership of
Prof. Attahiru Jega has disqualified the Gubernatorial candidates of Seven Political Parties for failing to nominate their running mates. 

The Electoral Body's decision as contained in its website showed that the affected parties below will not participate in the February 28 governorship election.

• People's Party of Nigeria (PPN) -  Delta
• New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) -Ogun
• Labour Party (LP) - Niger
• United Democratic Party (UDP)- Rivers
• People's Democratic Movement (PDM) - Sokoto 
• People's Democratic Movement (PDM)-  Zamfara.

The statement added that the decision was in compliance with section 187 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended which provides that " a Candidate for Governorship election shall not be deemed to be validly nominated unless he appoints another candidate as running mate to occupy the office of the Deputy Governor"

INEC stressed that the time provided for withdrawal and replacement of candidates by political parties had not been utilised by the affected parties to provide the required deputies as provided for in the enabling law.

The decision by Nigeria's electoral body did not affect the leading parties PDP and the APC for the February 28 Governorship and States House of Assembly Elections in the Country.