Political parties can no longer substitute the candidates they have nominated and have their names published on the final list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), it was learnt yesterday.

The commission said only dead candidates and those whose nomination are voided by the courts can be substituted.

According to the electoral umpire, the window for the withdrawal and substitution of candidates has closed after the publication of the final list of candidates nominated for national and state elections.

The commission said that only the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) had approached it to replace Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party PDP.

Shekaru was nominated as ANPP’s senatorial candidate for Kano Central before he dumped the party, forcing the ANPP to approach INEC for substitution.

But INEC rejected the ANPP request because it was made after the window for substitution had elapsed. (The Nation)