Tambuwal is Sokoto PDP guber candidate, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the first runner up in the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Sokoto State as the party’s candidate in 2019 governorship election.

Confirming Tambuwal’s nomination, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, INEC, Mr Festus Okoye said his emergence as the governorship candidate followed the substitution of Manir Muhammad Dan’iya whose name was previously submitted as the governorship candidate of PDP in the state.

Recall that upon the pursuant of PDP presidential ticket, Tambuwal declined to obtain governorship expression of interest and nomination forms for a second term, paving way for Dan’iya to be nominated and winning the party’s gubernatorial ticket.

Okoye recalled that “as at the close of nominations for the Governorship and State Assembly Elections, the leadership of the PDP forwarded the name of Dan’Iya as the governorship candidate but that the party had just taken advantage of the substitution window to field Tambuwal, the incumbent governor of the State”.

He said “Now, as you are aware, by the provisions of Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), a candidate validly nominated by a political party may withdraw his candidature by a notice in writing, signed by him and delivered by himself to the political party that nominated him for the election and such a political party shall convey his withdrawal to the INEC.

“So it is the responsibility of political parties to nominate candidates for elections but such a party can withdraw a candidate properly nominated, if the candidate withdraws his candidature by a notice in writing signed by himself and delivered to the political party that nominated him.

“As at yesterday (Friday), the PDP carried out a substitution in relation to their governorship candidate for Sokoto State. They have now nominated Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as the governorship candidate of the PDP for Sokoto State”.

Governor Tambuwal, former Speaker, House of Representatives had contested and won the state governorship seat in 2015 on the platform of the APC but in September this year dumped the APC for the PDP.