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Just In: Tinubu, Peter Obi can’t replace running mate – INEC

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By Enekorogha Godbless

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has ruled out the concept of “placeholder” or dummy vice presidential candidate as done by political parties in the past, noting that it has no place in the constitution of Nigeria.

It would be recalled that INEC had set June 17 as the deadline for the nomination of vice-presidential candidates by political parties.

It was learnt that in a move to beat the deadline of INEC some political parties have submitted some vice- presidential candidate names including Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress and Peter Obi of Labour Party, whom they described as “placeholders or dummies.”

However, speaking during a chat on ARISE TV on Monday, INEC Commissioner for Voters’ Education and Information, Barrister Festus Okoye, ruled out the concept of “placeholder” for vice-presidential candidates, saying it has no place in the constitution of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He further maintained, “placeholder is a unique Nigerian invention” for which the commission’s law has no provision.

“As far as we are concerned, there’s no form submitted by the presidential candidate where they said we’re submitting this person’s name as a place or placeholder,” he said.

He further reiterated that such parties hoping to replace their VP candidates need to approach the court.

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