The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, made the clarification in an interview on Sunday.
He said this when he was asked to explain why, despite their adoption of Atiku, some presidential candidates under the aegis of Coalition of United Political Parties still have their names on the list released by INEC.
Okoye said, “The Commission will have the names and logos of 73 political parties fielding presidential candidates in the 2019 elections.
“In the eyes of the Constitution and the law, the parties whose names have been published will contest the election and it is immaterial that they are canvassing votes for other candidate.
“The CUPP is not a registered political party. It has the right to exist by virtue of the provisions of Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) guaranteeing right to peaceful assembly and association.
“The CUPP is also entitled to right to freedom of expression guaranteed in Section 39 of the same Constitution.”
When asked whether CUPP leadership had written to INEC that they were supporting Atiku and as such, would not field candidates, Okoye said political parties were not under obligation to inform INEC of their decisions.
