INEC faults Ezekwesili's withdrawal from presidential race

INEC faults Ezekwesili’s withdrawal from presidential race

By : Msugh Ityokura, Abuja

Date: 24 January 2019 2:21pm WAT

Obiageli Ezekwesili, strategic team leader of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign group, speaks during the closing session of a meeting to review efforts to recover the abducted Chibok girls in Abuja

[FILES] Obiageli Ezekwesili, strategic team leader of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign group, speaks during the closing session of a meeting to review efforts to recover the abducted Chibok girls organised by the Chibok Community Association in collaboration with the #BringBackOurGirls group, in Abuja January 1, 2015. Parents of 200 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamist Boko Haram rebels in April said they were appealing directly to the United Nations for help after losing hope that the Nigerian government would rescue them. Picture taken January 1, 2015. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde (NIGERIA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CRIME LAW)

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has faulted the withdrawal of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria’s presidential candidate, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, from the race based on constitutional provisions.

The Commission said it is impossible for any presidential candidate to withdraw from the race now.

According to the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2019 general elections, the last day for withdrawal by candidates or replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties was 17th November 2018 for presidential and National Assembly elections.

“The deadline for Ezekwesili or any candidate in that category to withdraw or be replaced has passed,” said the chief press secretary to the chairman of the commission, Rotimi Oyakanmi in a statement.