INEC rejects governorship nominations of seven parties

               
The Independent National Electoral Commission has rejected the governorship nominations of seven political parties.

The rejection which affected several states of the federation, according to INEC, was as a result of the parties’ inability to nominate running mates.

The parties and the states affected are – Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) in Delta state, Labour Party in Niger State, New Nigeria Peoples Party in Ogun State, Unity Party of Nigeria in Oyo State,
                   
United Democratic Party in Rivers State, and Peoples Democratic Movement in Sokoto and Zamfara States respectively.

In a decision extract issued and signed by the Director (Commission’s Secretariat), Ishiaku A. Gali, the commission also approved that the House of Representatives election in Ado/Opoku/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue State, being uncontested, the nominated candidate should be declared elected on the day of the election by the Returning Officer.

Section 187 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that a candidate to the office of a governor shall not be deemed to be validly nominated for such office unless he appoints another candidate as his running mate who shall occupy the office of Deputy Governor.