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ABUJA. – Nigeria’s electoral body has approved the names of 11 candidates and their running mates to contest in the presidential election slated for February 14, 2015 in the West African country, an official statement said yesterday.
Although Nigeria has 26 registered political parties, only 11 had submitted a list of presidential candidates for approval by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the statement from the INEC said.
INEC’s deadline for the submission of names was December 25 and the electoral commission approved the list in line with provisions of the Electoral Act, noting the grounds for qualification and disqualification were clearly specified in country’s amended 1999 Constitution.
The electoral body said Nigerians should feel free to screen the credentials of the candidates and raise issues for anyone to be disqualified.
Political analysts in Nigeria say, however, the election will be a tight contest between the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria’s biggest opposition party, which both seem to have more support- ers.
Incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan is seeking re-election, while Muhammad Buhari, presidential candidate of the APC, is seeking to wrest power from the incumbent leader. – Xinhua.
Online Reporter