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.’
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“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 All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State has received more than 11,000 new members from various political parties, but the development has been overshadowed by the absence of several prominent party leaders at the reception held in Azare.
The event, which took place at the Azare Township Stadium on Saturday, was organised to formally welcome the defectors into the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking at the event, the APC state chairman, Alhaji Hassan Mohammed Tilde, said more than 150,000 people had recently joined the party across Bauchi State.
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He described the growing membership as evidence of the APC’s increasing popularity in the state and expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the 2027 elections.
Among those formally received into the party were Yusuf Mohammed Bako, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and African Democratic Congress (ADC); Hassana Arkila, who defected from the APM; and Hajiya Zainab Baban Takko, a former member of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
The APC governorship running mate, Dr Farouk Mustapha, presented the directory containing the names of the new members to the party’s state leader and Minister of Health, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate.
Mustapha said the list would subsequently be forwarded to the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda.
Describing his return to the APC as a return to familiar political territory, Mustapha expressed optimism that the party would win all elective positions in Bauchi State in 2027.
However, the gathering was notable for the absence of several influential APC figures, including former Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar; former Bauchi State Governor and Renewed Hope Ambassador/Coordinator for the North-East, Mallam Isa Yuguda; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara; and governorship aspirants Alhaji Nura Manu Soro and Bala Maijama’a Wunti.
No official explanation was immediately given for their absence.
However, some party members and insiders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, linked the development to lingering disagreements over internal party democracy and the processes surrounding the selection of candidates for the 2027 elections.
Some members also alleged irregularities during recent party primaries, claiming that election materials were not distributed to some polling units and that certain voters were not adequately informed about the exercise.
The alleged grievances have triggered calls for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, to intervene and reconcile aggrieved members and aspirants.
Party stakeholders warned that failure to resolve the disputes could undermine the APC’s recent membership gains and weaken its prospects in the 2027 elections.
While the influx of new members represents a significant boost to the APC’s political structure in Bauchi, the reported leadership disagreements could pose a challenge to the party’s efforts to consolidate its position ahead of the 2027 polls.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has replaced his deputy, Senator Umar Tafida, with former Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Augie, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
The development was announced on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi by the All Progressives Congress National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Suleiman Argungu.
According to a statement by the Kebbi State Government, Argungu said the decision followed professional legal advice concerning the eligibility of the incumbent deputy governor.
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“The present Deputy Governor was dropped as the running mate to Governor Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu for the 2027 general election based on professional legal advice,” Argungu said.
He explained that the decision was taken with Tafida’s understanding and consent, stressing that there was no disagreement between the governor and his deputy.
Argungu subsequently announced Augie as the new running mate to Governor Idris for the 2027 governorship election.
He called on APC members, politicians and supporters across Kebbi State to accept the development and unite behind the party ahead of the 2027 election.
Governor Idris also dismissed suggestions of a rift between him and Tafida, urging continued unity, support and cooperation as his administration pursues further development across the state.
Augie, who hails from Augie Local Government Area of Kebbi State, served as Commissioner for Finance during the administration of former Governor Atiku Bagudu.
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election, saying the outcome of the August 15 governorship election reflects the choice of the people.
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared Adeleke the winner of the keenly contested election on Sunday.
Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, described Adeleke’s victory as an expression of the preference of the majority of Osun voters.
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“This is democracy, and the majority of Osun voters have expressed their preference for the re-election of Governor Adeleke,” Oyebanji said.
He congratulated Adeleke on his electoral victory and urged him to be magnanimous in victory by carrying other contestants along in the task of building a more prosperous Osun State.
Oyebanji also commended the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, describing him as “a worthy challenger” and applauding Osun APC members for putting up a strong fight during the election.
He urged the opposition party to return to the drawing board and strategise for future elections.
The Ekiti governor also praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as providing a level playing field for all candidates, arguing that the move helped reduce tension and contributed to a credible contest.
“We must specially appreciate our dear President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for providing a level playing field for all the contestants.
This singular act of the President reduced tension and made the contest a credible one,” he said.
Oyebanji further commended INEC and the security agencies for their roles in conducting the election.
He, however, cautioned against interpreting Adeleke’s victory as a rejection of Tinubu by Osun voters, predicting that the state would massively support the President in the 2027 election.
“The outcome of the Osun Governorship election should not be misinterpreted as a true reflection of Osun people about President Bola Tinubu. Certainly not. The people of Osun will massively vote for President Tinubu come January 2027,” Oyebanji added.
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