The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday gave political parties conditions to fulfill before vice presidential candidate can be substituted ahead of 2023 general elections.
INEC gave the condition following the arrangement of placeholder vice presidential candidates submitted by political parties.
Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, submitted Doyin Okupe as placeholder vice-presidential candidate, while Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos State governor and presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) submitted Ibrahim Masari, as placeholder running mate.
INEC’s Commissioner on Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, who spoke on Channels Television’s programme said, until the political parties fulfill the conditions for substituting running mates, the commission will not recognise names other than the ones submitted.
“A political party cannot substitute a nominated candidate, except in two instances: if the nominated candidate dies. Or if the nominated candidate withdraws from the race.
“Any withdrawal must be accompanied by a letter written by the nominated candidate to the political party, indicating he has withdrawn from the race, along with a sworn affidavit sworn.
“The party will now forward same to INEC. And these are the documents of withdrawal, which will state who the replacements are.
“The issue of withdrawal is at the discretion of the nominated candidate and no one else,” he said.
