The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has listed two conditions under which political parties can change nominated candidates or running mates of their presidential candidates ahead of the 2023 election.
INEC’s Commissioner on Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye, disclosed this while appearing on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, on Friday, June 24, 2022.
“A political party cannot substitute a nominated candidate, except in two instances: if the nominated candidate dies. Or if the nominated candidate withdraws from the race.
“Any withdrawal must be accompanied by a letter written by the nominated candidate to the political party, indicating he has withdrawn from the race, along with a sworn affidavit sworn.
“The party will now forward same to INEC. And these are the documents of withdrawal, which will state who the replacements are.
“The issue of withdrawal is at the discretion of the nominated candidate and no one else,” Okoye said.
