The Independent National Electoral Commission in Sokoto State has said it was not aware of the defection of the All Progressive Congress candidate, Alhaji Bature Lili in the State House of Assembly rerun election to the Peoples Democratic Party.
The state assembly rerun election is slated for Saturday, 25th January 2020.
The lawmaker had on Wednesday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, citing the Supreme Court victory of the State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, as the basis for his defection.
However, we contacted the INEC Head of Voter Education and Publicity in Sokoto State, Mohammed Musa, the spokesperson insisted that the APC candidate’s change of party has no effect on the election.
Musa said, “The said person remains a candidate on the ballot papers and all votes in his favour will be counted for him.
“As far as we are concerned, his decision has not been communicated to us. Besides, he is still a standing candidate in the forthcoming rerun election in the eye of electoral law.
“The rerun election has no time frame for replacement or substitution of a candidate by any political party.”
Lili’s withdrawal has, however, put the APC leadership in the state under strain. The APC State Chairman, Sadiq Acida, told ours that “the party is meeting to make its position know on the matter”.
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