By Omeiza Ajayi 

ABUJA—The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, seems to be in a quandary as to which of the two candidates proposed by the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to accept at the deadline of submission of candidates, yesterday.

While the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction has Pastor Osagie-Ize Iyamu as its candidate, the Ali Modu Sheriff-led faction has Matthew Iduoriykem as its  candidate. However, the commission only monitored the primaries organised by the Makarfi-led mainstream of the party.

INEC had said the July 4 Federal High Court ruling on leadership crisis in the PDP would determine whether to recognise the Ahmed Makarfi or Modu Sheriff faction along with their candidate for the governorship election.

The courts have since ruled in favour of Mr Makarfi. Sheriff had since announced his desire to head to the Appeal Court, insisting that he remains the national chairman of the PDP

Deputy Director, Public Affairs at INEC, Mr Nick Dazang, however, said he could not immediately confirm whether the commission has received any notice from the appellate court as a result of Sheriff’s planned appeal.

Dazang said he was attending a workshop in Lagos and would need to get in touch with INEC’s Legal Services Department and consequently revert to our correspondent.

Meanwhile, the date for the submission of names of candidates to INEC by political parties has lapsed.

INEC had fixed July 12 as the last day for parties to submit names of their candidates. However, there is still room for submission of candidates within 15 days from yesterday.