INEC insists Gov Ahmed remains PDP’s Kwara South senatorial candidate ahead of 2019 elections

– INEC has insisted that Kwara state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed is still in the senatorial race

– INEC says Ahmed remains the Kwara South senatorial candidate of the PDP despite his withdrawal from the race late last year

– The electoral commission said the deadline for the nomination and substitution of candidates for the election had elapsed before the PDP’s notification

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kwara state, Mallam Garba Madami, has insisted that the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, remains the Kwara south senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the general elections.

Madami said INEC has not made any mistake by including Ahmed’s name as the PDP standard bearer for Kwara South in the forth coming elections.

He disclosed this in Ilorin while speaking with journalists on Wednesday, January 23, on the authentic candidate for the Kwara South senatorial of PDP in the state.

There have been hues and cries in the PDP chapter of the state over the emergence of the name of Ahmed as the Kwara South senatorial candidate of the party instead of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim.

The governor had last year withdrawn from the race for Senator Ibrahim and communicated INEC over the development which the commission also acknowledged.

However, Madami, who presented evidences of communication between INEC and PDP on nomination and substitution of candidates to journalists, explained that, “November 17, 2018, was the deadline for the nomination and substitution of candidates for the election, while the PDP substitution letter was submitted on December 3, 2018.”

“INEC had replied PDP on December 31, explaining to the party that the request could not be granted following the expiration of the date for nomination and substitution of candidates,” he added.

Madami, therefore, said INEC has not committed any offence whatsoever on the issue as Ahmed remains PDP candidate for Kwara South senatorial district.

Meanwhile, Senator Ibrahim has kicked against the purported listing of Ahmed as the Kwara South senatorial candidate of the PDP.

He said he remains the candidate of the PDP for Kwara South senatorial district despite counter claims by the INEC.

Ibrahim said this while addressing party members and supporters in Ilemona, headquarters of Oyun local government area of the state on Wednesday, January 23.

He asked party members and his supporters not to panic, stressing that the mistake will soon be corrected by the electoral body.

Meanwhile, INEC may disqualify 43 candidates for failing to meet the minimum age requirements specified in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for candidates seeking elective offices.

Tracknews.ng checks reveals that one presidential candidate and three vice presidential candidates may be affected as the electoral body’s hammer fall on erring party officials. 14 senatorial and 25 House of Representatives candidates might also be affected by the decision of the electoral commission.

Also, 102 other candidates maybe affected for having “undefined” identity. They include 23 senatorial and 79 House of Representatives candidates.