The Independent National Electoral Commission said it has shifted the deadline for the submission of governorship and House of Assembly candidates’ forms fromDecember 25 to December 26.
Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, made this known on Thursday in Abuja while speaking with newsmen.
Idowu said the shift in date became necessary because December 25 was Christmas day.
He, however, said that there was no extension for the December 18 deadline set for the submission of Presidential and the National Assembly forms.
Idowu said that there would be no opportunity for any political party that failed to submit its candidates’ forms at 8pm on the last day declared for submission.
He explained that the commission initially intended to close submission of forms at6pm but that some of the political parties wanted it to be shifted to 12 midnight.
He added: “But at a meeting on Monday, the commission and the political parties eventually settled for 8pm deadline.
“For the presidential and National Assemblies elections, deadline is Wednesday December 18 at 8pm for the submission of form CF001 and CF002.”
Idowu, however, declined comment on the number of political parties that had submitted their presidential candidates’ forms ahead of the deadline.
Idowu stated that the list of the presidential and national assembly candidates would be published on December 25 as provided by the law.
Similarly, he said that names submitted for governorship and House of Assembly elections, with December 26 as deadline, would be officially published on January 1, 2015.
He explained that there was a constitutional provision for the withdrawal of candidates but that the candidate must write and sign that he or she was withdrawing from this race.
“When he or she does that, the party can bring another name within the stipulated time,” Idowu said.