The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore has contested the claim by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the party and New Nigeria People’s Party were yet to upload a single nomination for governorship and state assembly candidates to its portal.
INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye had also advised the affected parties to ensure that they upload their list of candidates by 15 July deadline. “The portal will automatically shut down at 6.00pm on that date”, Okoye said.
But Sowore said that the AAC had submitted over 60 candidates particulars to the INEC. In a video posted on his Facebook page, the presidential candidate said that INEC was not providing correct information about AAC.
He said:” Ladies and gentlemen, we are just reacting to INEC that our political party, Action African Congress hasn’t submitted its candidate. To be very clear, this has nothing to do with the presidential candidate and his vice.
“That has been submitted and resolved and their names have been published all across the country in INEC offices in the states. So we’re just trying to let you know that this is not correct, we have submitted over 60 candidates across Nigeria who are going to be running for election under the banner of AAC.
“So there is nothing to panic about and we hope that INEC will take note of this and contact us in advance or check their records before they go public in saying AAC hasn’t submitted candidates name. Some insinuated this to mean that the presidential candidate of AAC hasn’t submitted his name on INEC’s portal. It has been resolved and new candidates have also been sent to INEC.
“Infact, I was at INEC’s office today with the secretary of the party to meet with the Director in charge of political parties. Please do not panic over this, our candidates have been submitted to INEC portal”.
INEC has fixed Friday 15 July for the withdrawal by candidates/replacement of withdrawn candidates in the case of presidential and National Assembly election, while 12 August is the deadline for governorship and House of Assembly candidates.
