The Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) on Saturday released the
list of the presidential candidates to run in the
2015 elections.
They are:
President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP)
General Muhammadu Buhari of the All
Progressives Congress (APC)
Prof. Comfort Oluremi Sonaiya of Kowa Party
Ambrose Albert of Hope Democratic Party
Ganiyu Galadima of Allied Congress Party of
Nigeria
Rafiu Salau of Alliance for Democracy
Godson Okoye of United Democratic Party
Dr. Nani Ibrahim Ahmad of African Democratic
Congress
Martin Onovo of National Conscience Party
Tunde Anifowoshe-Kelani of Action Alliance
Chekwas Okorie of United Progressive Party.
…………..
Their corresponding running mates are:
The Incumbent Vice-President, Namadi Sambo
(PDP),
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (APC),
Saidu Bobboi (Kowa Party)
Haruna Shaba (Hope Democratic Party),
Balarabe Ahmed (ACPN),
Prof. Clinton Cliff Akuchie (AD),
Haruna Adamu (United Democratic Party),
Obianuju Murphy-Uzohue (African Democratic
Congress
Ibrahim Mohammed(NCP),
Comrade Paul Ishaka Ofomile (Action Alliance),
and Bello Umar( United Progressive Party).
INEC’s deadline for the submission of names
was December 25 and the commision provided
this list in line with the provisions of the
Electoral Act; saying the grounds for
qualification are as specified in Sections 65′
106, 131 and 177 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman,
Mr. Kayode Robert Idowu, said: “We have
complied with the law; we have published the
list of all the presidential candidates in all the
states of the Federation. For other elective
offices, the lists will be published in their
constituencies and senatorial districts as
applicable.”
The electoral agency said Nigerians are free to
screen the particulars and raise issues if they
think any candidate should be disqualified.
INEC said: “The personal particulars are
displayed in all the state and local government
offices of the commission in the constituencies
of the candidates.
“Any person who has reasonable grounds to
believe that any information given by any
candidate is false or that the candidate is not
qualified or is disqualified from contesting the
elections should notify the commission in
writing within seven days of this publication.”
Eleven conditions under which any of the
presidential candidates or other candidates can
be disqualified are:
”While a person is disqualified if he or she
(i) has declared allegiance to another country;
(ii) has been elected to the office of President or
Governor at any two previous elections;
(iii) adjudged to be a lunatic or declared to be
of unsound mind;
(iv) is under a sentence of death or is under a
sentence of imprisonment or fine for an offence
involving dishonesty or fraud
(v) has in the last 10 years been convicted and
sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty
(vi) has been found guilty of a contravention of
the code of conduct;
(vii) is an undischarged bankrupt;
(viii) is employed in the public service and does
not resign, withdraw or retire at least 30 days
to the election;
(ix) is a member of a secret society;
(x) has been indicted for embezzlement or
fraud by a Judicial Committee of Inquiry or an
Administrative Panel of Inquiry or a Tribunal
and which indictment has been accepted by the
Federal or State Government;
(xi) has presented a forged certificate to INEC