INEC refuses Ezekwesili’s withdrawal from Presidential race

The body responsible for conducting credible elections in Nigeria, The Independent National Electoral Commission, has informed Dr Ezekwesili who as the presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party stepped down from the race yesterday that it is too late to withdraw from the race as the time that such was allowed is far gone.

INEC buttressed it’s point through the Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, that withdrawal from the electoral poll can only be done by writing to the office of INEC not later than 45days to the time of the election and this time line has lapsed since the 17th of November, 2018. The 2019 election is just 22 days away.

INEC has called the attention of Dr Ezekwesili to the fact that despite stepping down in the race, in the eyes of the law she is still seen as the Presidential candidate of the ACPN and the logo of her party would appear alongside 72 other parties on February 16.

Ezekwesili on the other hand has said that she steeped down after extensive talks with Nigerians both at home and abroad. She claimed that her action was a part of her contribution towards building a coalition to defeat the APC and PDP.