The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Monday, warned Nigerian politicians that their new invention – the use of a placeholder – to sidestep its deadline was not only unknown to law but alien to democratic practice.
The electoral umpire warned that there were no forms or space in its forms for Place Holders, stating categorically that as far as it was concerned, the parties fielding candidates for next year’s presidential election, have submitted the names of their running mates as of the July 17 deadline as contained in the schedule of activities by the commission.
INEC’s National Commissioner of Information and Chairman, Voter Education, Festus Okoye, while on ARISE Television Morning Show, on Monday said the idea of ‘Place Holder’ was a Nigerian invention, which had no place in the constitution or any legal foothold, adding also that there was no provision for such option in the forms submitted by the parties.
Okoye during the programme explained how political parties could substitute their vice-presidential candidates, a process not as easy as it was originally made or seem by the parties.
(THISDAY)
