The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has given all presidential candidates of political parties 7 days to nominate their running mates.
The Commission maintained that June 17th, 2022, has been set as the deadline for presidential candidates to upload names of their Vice Presidential candidates.
According to a statement by the INEC Chairman: “the list of all Presidential and Governorship candidates must be accompanied by the names of their running mates (i.e. Vice Presidential and Deputy Governorship candidates) without which the nomination is invalid.
“All nominations must be uploaded to the portal on/or before the deadlines. The portal will automatically shut down at 6.00 pm (1800hrs) on Friday June 17th 2022 for national elections and 6.00 pm (1800hrs) on Friday July 15th 2022 for State elections.” He wrote.
As at today, (Friday), non of the top political parties’ presidential candidates have named their running mates.
Meanwhile APC Flag bearer, Bola Tinubu, who is expected to pick a northerner, had earlier told journalist that he won’t disclose the choice of his running mate, he said; “I won’t tell you that, that is my right; it is in my pocket book.”
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who is expected to name a running mate from the Southern part of Nigeria, is yet to do so.
Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi, as well as Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has also not named their Vice Presidential Candidate.