The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has given all presidential candidates of political parties one week to name their running mates.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu set June 17th, 2022, as the deadline for presidential candidates to name their running mates.
A statement by Yakubu said: “Similarly, the list of all Presidential and Governorship candidates must be accompanied by the names of their running mates (i.e. Vice Presidential and Deputy Governorship candidates) without which the nomination is invalid.
“All nominations must be uploaded to the portal on/or before the deadlines. The portal will automatically shut down at 6.00 pm (1800hrs) on Friday June 17th 2022 for national elections and 6.00 pm (1800hrs) on Friday July 15th 2022 for State elections.”
As of Friday, non of the top political parties’ presidential candidates have named their running mates.
While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, is expected to name a running mate from the Southern part of Nigeria, APC flag bearer, Bola Tinubu is expected to pick a northerner as his vice-presidential candidate.
But, Tinubu had said his running mate was in his pocket.
For Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) candidate, being from the southern region of Nigeria, analysts believe his running mate will be from the northern part of the country.
Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has also not named his running mate.
The former Governor of Kano State is believed to be contemplating picking the party’s vice-presidential candidate from the south of Nigeria