Politics
Advocacy Group says Under new Electoral Act, presidential/Guber candidates can’t substitute running mates
By John Danjuma
The Center for Reforms and Public Advocacy (CRPA) has indicated that under the new Electoral Act 2022, running mates nominated by Presidential, Governorship candidates of various political parties are not subject to withdrawal, or substitution.
Both presidential candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, submitted placeholders with the hope to substitute their running mates late.
However, a statement released Saturday in Abuja by the Executive Director of the center, Ifeanyi Okechukwu, said the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022 make clear provisions on the yardstick for withdrawal and substitution of candidates, adding that provision, as contained in Sections 28 and 84 of the amended Electoral Act 2022, relates to only the candidate – presidential and gubernatorial – and not their running mates.
According to the statement, the substitution of candidates by political parties becomes possible in cases of withdrawal or death of candidates and these are president, gubernatorial, Senate, House of Representatives, and State Assemblies who were nominated by political parties through valid primaries in accordance with Section 29 and 84.
“Section 33 of the Electoral Act says “A political party shall not be allowed to change or substitute its candidate whose name has been submitted under section 29 of this Act, except in the case of death or withdrawal by the candidate: ‘Provided that in the case of such withdrawal or death of a candidate, the political party affected shall, within 14 days of the occurrence of the event, hold a fresh primary election to produce and submit a fresh candidate to the Commission for the election concerned’; and to conform with section 33, section 29 must be adhered to, to ascertain categories of candidates captured.
“Section 29 in subsection (1) says ‘every political party shall, not later than 180 days before the date appointed for a general election under this Act, submit to the Commission, in the prescribed Forms, the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections, who must have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party.’
Read Also >> PIA: FG Commences Town Hall Engagements With Host Communities On Details
“So, it is no more business as usual, the current electoral law is very stringent in many areas especially methods of political parties’ primaries, who are delegates, how withdrawal is done, how the substitution is done, and transmission of results, among others.
“The current and subsisting electoral law does not capture a scene that makes the possible substitution of associate candidates or running mates either by the account of voluntary withdrawal or death. Subsequently, any substitution of running mates nominated by presidential and gubernatorial candidates comes flat in the face of the law.
“While this might not have been a deliberate oversight, it must be accepted that the law is sacrosanct and nothing can be added or removed from it unless through amendment of sections 31 and 33 to make provision for that in the future.
“Until then, in accordance with section 31 which says “A candidate may withdraw his or her candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered personally by the candidate to the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such withdrawal to the Commission not later than 90 days to the election” and section 33, only candidates who were nominated through valid primaries by political parties and whose names were submitted in accordance with section 29 can withdraw and be substituted under the law, not running mates that were not nominated through any primaries but by presidential and gubernatorial candidates.”
While commending the electoral umpire for the latest the activity by the commission in ensuring that the 2023 elections meet with the requirements of the law as established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act 2022, as amended, the group, however, expressed “concern about the likelihood of infractions that are already being cooked by some political parties as it relates to the issue of replacement of their associate candidates or running mates in the presidential election.
“Many lawyers, legislative experts, and even INEC have made it clear that what we are having are presidential running mates, which the Constitution and Electoral Act refer to as “associate candidate” and “running mate” and not placeholders.
The statement urged cautioned the INEC on “the catch-word of placeholders as being bandied by some political parties is not known to the law and that the law does not give a room for substitution of running mates in the 2023 election guidelines.
“We also wish to impress upon political parties that they must familiarize themselves with the relevant aspects of the new electoral law and avoid actions that are capable of causing infractions.”
The House of Representatives has adopted the report on the four tax reform bills of the President Bola Ahmend Tinubu administration.
The house made the adoption on Thursday at plenary in Abuja.
Having scaled the lower house, the tax reform bills now await the endorsement of the Senate.
ALSO READ: Economic Reforms Aim To Protect Nigeria’s Future – Tinubu
Notably, the adopted bills include the Nigerian Tax Bill, the Tax Administration Bill, the Revenue Tax Board Bill, and the Nigerian Revenue Service Establishment Bill.
The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Hon James Abiodun Faleke, said, “These bills underwent three full days of public hearings, with input from over 80 key stakeholders. Afterwards, we held an eight-day retreat to debate each clause.”
He assured Nigerians that the tax reform bills would produce widely acceptable laws.
“I am glad that House members recognised our thorough work and approved all our recommendations,” Faleke said.
He thanked fellow lawmakers and the House leadership for entrusting his committee with processing the tax bills and presenting them for consideration.
He commended President Tinubu for prioritising tax law reforms, noting that some existing tax laws date back to 1959.
“We cannot continue using outdated tax laws that no longer meet our business, survival, and revenue needs,” he stressed.
On his part, the Deputy Committee Chairman, Hon Saidu Abdullahi (APC-Niger), noted that no bill in the 10th Assembly had generated as much debate as the tax reform bills.
He praised Speaker Tajudeen Abbas for fostering consensus among stakeholders, ensuring broad-based input into the legislative process.
Hon Abdullahi highlighted that representatives from all geopolitical zones and regional thought leaders were involved, easing public concerns.
“The committee’s recommendations reflect the contributions of various stakeholders.
“These were never seen as perfect documents. The Executive made proposals, and the public hearing allowed Nigerians to refine them. Lawmakers have now endorsed the final version,” he added.
In the same vein, Hon Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo) described the process as transparent, with consultants and the Executive making adjustments to reflect public interest.
“In spite of being in the opposition, we are proud of this historic moment. It will expand the tax net and increase government revenue.
“This reform will enhance tax collection efficiency while protecting small businesses. That is why we worked together to ensure its passage,” Hon Ugochinyere said.
In the views of Hon Benson Babajimi (APC-Lagos), all stakeholder concerns, including inheritance tax, derivation, and VAT, were carefully considered.
“This is a great day for Nigeria. The House has approved the necessary reforms, and we now await Senate concurrence,” he said.
The ragging battle for the soul of Edo State between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a dramatic turn, with the APC-run government accusing the PDP leadership of being the brain behind the menace of kidnapping ravaging the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, in a statement in Benin City on Tuesday averred that intelligence reports indicate the involvement of PDP leaders in recent kidnappings and violent crimes across the state.
He posited that the opposition PDP was sponsoring insecurity in Edo State as part of calculated efforts to undermine the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
ALSO READ: Under Tinubu, Nigeria Is Moving In Right Direction
Itua described the PDP’s outcry over insecurity as “crocodile tears,” accusing them of deliberately orchestrating chaos while pretending to be concerned about public safety.
According to Itua, “The sudden concern expressed by PDP leaders is nothing but a smokescreen to divert attention from their own complicity. These are the same individuals who, during the 2024 governorship election, armed non-state actors with dangerous weapons, many of which were never recovered. Today, those weapons are in the hands of criminals terrorizing innocent Edo citizens.”
He added that the PDP’s strategy was to create an atmosphere of fear, spread misinformation, and discredit the current administration.
“Their goal is clear — destabilize the state, weaken public confidence in Governor Okpebholo’s leadership, and push a false narrative of failure. But Edo people can see through these antics,” Itua stated.
He revealed that the state government has called on security agencies, including the Nigeria Police, to launch a thorough investigation into the alleged involvement of PDP leaders in the rising wave of kidnappings and armed violence.
“No individual or political group should be allowed to hold the state hostage for political gain. Those found culpable must face the full wrath of the law,” he added.
Gov Okpebholo’s administration reaffirmed its commitment to tackling insecurity and ensuring the protection of lives and property. The government urged Edo residents to remain vigilant and not fall for what it described as the PDP’s “deceptive tactics.”
Itua pointed out that “Insecurity thrives when its perpetrators believe they are untouchable. It is time for security agencies to prove them wrong.”
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa remains the duly elected leader of Ondo State after an appeal challenging his victory in the November 16, 2024, gubernatorial election was dismissed.
The case, brought forward by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mr. Agboola Ajayi, was thrown out by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Ajayi had sought to disqualify Aiyedatiwa over allegations that his running mate, Dr. Olayide Owolabi, submitted inconsistent documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
READ ALSO: Gov Aiyedatiwa Grants Clemency To 43 Convicts In Ondo
He argued that some certificates bore “Jackson” as the deputy governor’s middle name, while others had “Owolabi,” with no official record of a name change.
However, the apex court ruled that a documented name change does not amount to electoral fraud.
It found evidence confirming that Owolabi had used “Jackson” during his secondary school years before formally changing it.
Additionally, the court ruled that Ajayi lacked the locus standi to challenge the election, as he had filed the case after the legal time limit.
The suit, which stemmed from nomination forms submitted on May 20, 2024, was only taken to the Federal High Court on June 7, exceeding the 14-day window allowed by law.
As a result, the Supreme Court upheld the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, dismissing the case and imposing a ₦2 million cost on Ajayi, payable to each of the four respondents.
Reacting to the judgment, the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, described it as a victory for democracy and due process.
“As I have stated previously, the courtroom is a battleground for legal reasoning, and every advocate who argues a case contributes to strengthening our democracy,” Ajulo said.
He emphasized that the ruling had effectively put an end to the prolonged legal battle over Aiyedatiwa’s election, reinforcing the legitimacy of the APC-led government in Ondo State.
“The decision solidifies the legitimacy of the APC-led government in Ondo State, closing the chapter on the prolonged political legal tussle,” he added.
Task Force Operatives Storm Kidnappers’ Hideouts In Edo Central
Woman Jumps Into Lagos Lagoon, Recovered Dead
Reps Approve Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills, Senate To Follow
Economic Reforms Aim To Protect Nigeria’s Future – Tinubu
ADF Flags Off N16Bn 2025 National Food Intervention Programme
