Nigerian Pilot learnt that while PDP submitted the names of President Goodluck Jonathan and his running mate, Vice President Namadi Sambo, the APC presented Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate.
For the NCP, founded by that late activist lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Engr. Martin Onovo, is its presidential candidate while the UPP submitted Chief Chekwas Okorie as its standard bearer.
According to section 3 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), political parties are obliged to submit the names of their candidates to INEC not later than 60 days before the election.
However, as at the time of filing this report, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, could not ascertain the number of political parties which met the deadline.
He simply stated that political parties had been responding.
Meanwhile, the national secretariat of the PDP, yesterday witnessed a beehive of activities as the party leaders rushed to put finishing touches to the list of its presidential and National Assembly candidates.
Some party members who are apprehensive of the names of winners of the primaries laid siege to the office to monitor the list that was sent to INEC.
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, was one of the leaders of the party who had a closed-door meeting with the PDP leadership, few hours to the close of submission of list of candidates.
Governor Dickson spent about one hour in the office of the national chairman before he left and declined to speak with journalists on his mission at the secretariat.
There were two primaries for various positions in Bayelsa state.
Another high profile member of the party noticed at the secretariat was chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Andy Uba, who met some national officers of the PDP behind closed-doors.
According to INEC regulations, the parties have up to January 14, 2015 to make substitutions in their candidates’ lists.
Last night, INEC disclosed that it had shifted the deadline for the submission of Governorships and State Assemblies candidates’ forms from December 25 to December 26, 2014.
Idowu, who disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja, said the Commission adjusted the date because it falls on Christmas Day, December 25.
He however maintained that the December 18 (yesterday) deadline for the submission of Presidential and the National Assembly forms by political parties remained valid, stressing that the Commission would not extend the date for any political party which fails to submit by 8pm.
He said: “For the Presidential and National Assemblies elections deadline is Wednesday, December 18, by 8 pm for the submission of form CF001 and CF002.”
Idowu declined comment on the number of political parties which had submitted or yet to summit their presidential candidates forms.
“Even by tomorrow (Friday) you may not likely get the information from INEC because, the law provides that what is being submitted today must be officially published on December 25.
“It also provides that whatever names submitted for governorship and state houses of assemblies election, on December 26, 2014 should be officially published on the January 1, 2015.’’
He added that there was a constitutionals provision for the withdrawal of candidates but the person who is nominated to INEC has to write and sign that he or she is withdrawing from this race.
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