The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the concept of placeholder is a unique Nigerian invention which has no place in the constitution.
Speaking on Arise TV monitored by The Cable on Monday, INEC’s Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye said the commission therefore does not recognise such.
It noted that names submitted to it as placeholders by political parties are considered by the commission as vice presidential candidates.
Okoye said, “As far as we are concerned, there’s no form submitted by the presidential candidate where they said ‘we’re submitting this person’s name as a place or space holder’.
“The issue of space or place holder is a unique Nigerian invention that has no place in our constitutional and legal framework.
“Political parties’ candidates have submitted names of associates to run with them, and that is the position of the law as at today and nothing has changed.
“For there to be a substitution of a candidate, the vice-presidential candidate must write to INEC, with a sworn affidavit stating that he is withdrawing from the race within the time frame provided by the law. That’s the only way there can be a substitution of candidates.”
