The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared that there would be no extension of today’s (Friday) deadline for parties to submit the names of their presidential candidates and running mates.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, in an interview with reporters, insisted that the commission had not changed the deadline.
Responding to a question on if it was possible to get the number of political parties that had submitted the lists of candidates, Oyekanmi said, “We have to wait till 6 pm, Friday 17th June (the deadline), to have the accurate figure. There will be no extension.”
On Thursday, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had announced the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.
The All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as of 9:50 pm on Thursday, was yet to announce his running mate amid controversy over a Muslim-Muslim ticket.
However, a ranking member of the House of Representatives, James Faleke, said Tinubu was still consulting with the APC leaders, adding that there was no division in the party.
Faleke, who is the leader of the Tinubu Support Group, stated, “I can assure you that the candidate is making proper consultations with the leaders of the party before deciding.”
