INEC Releases List of Presidential Candidates/Running Mates & Guidelines for Screening Of Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday released the list of the presidential candidates to run in the 2015 elections. They are as follows;

President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),

General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC),

Prof. Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya of Kowa Party,

Ambrose Albert of Hope Democratic Party,

Ganiyu Galadima of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria,

Rafiu Salau of Alliance for Democracy,

Godson Okoye of United Democratic Party,

Dr. Nani Ibrahim Ahmad of African Democratic Congress,

Martin Onovo of National Conscience Party,

Tunde Anifowoshe-Kelani of Action Alliance, and

Chekwas Okorie of United Progressive Party.

Their corresponding running mates are:

The Incumbent Vice-President, Namadi Sambo (PDP),

Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (APC),

Saidu Bobboi (Kowa Party)

Haruna Shaba (Hope Democratic Party),

Balarabe Ahmed (ACPN),

Prof. Clinton Cliff Akuchie (AD),

Haruna Adamu (United Democratic Party),

Obianuju Murphy-Uzohue (African Democratic Congress

Ibrahim Mohammed(NCP),

Comrade Paul Ishaka Ofomile (Action Alliance), and

Bello Umar( United Progressive Party).

 

In addition to the above, INEC in preparatory for the National Assembly and state assembly elections expected to hold February 14, will commence the verification of the credentials submitted by the political parties on behalf of their respective candidates, thisdaylive reports.

In the same manner, the verification exercise for presidential candidates of 10 political parties for the February 14 presidential election is expected to hold between January 16 and 18 next year.
INEC, it was gathered, would be using the provisions of the constitution and the Electoral Act for the screening and verification of the documentation presented by the various candidates of the political parties.

In this regard, INEC would set up committees for the verification of candidates vying for national and state assemblies and members of these committees will be visiting the states to verify the personal particulars of the candidates between January 4 and 14.
However, the presidential and governorship verification exercise as well as the clearance committee will conduct its screening at the commission’s headquarters, Abuja, from January 16 to 18.
As penalty for candidates with false credentials, INEC is threatening to impose a fine of N500,000 on parties that present such candidates.

The guidelines for the screening and verification exercise were posted on the INEC website yesterday. The guidelines state: “Parties are requested to ensure that the candidates they intend to sponsor at the elections are available with the originals of all their credentials at the respective venues for the exercise, in case they are required.
“The attention of parties and their candidates is also drawn to Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2006, which disqualifies any candidate who provides false information in his/her affidavit (Form CF 001) from contesting elections.
“Furthermore, a political party which presents such a candidate that is guilty of the offence, is liable to a fine up to N500, 000.”
The INEC form 0001 that contains the personal details are displayed in all the state and local government offices of the commission in the constituencies of the candidates.

The guidelines further state that “any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given by any candidate is false, or that the candidate is not qualified, or should be disqualified from contesting the elections should notify the commission in writing within seven days of this publication”.