The
Independent National Electoral Commission on Saturday said only the courts
could disqualify a former Head of State and Presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), ahead of the 2015 general
elections.
The
commission, which said there was nothing it could do in the matter, also said
it had not received any petition against President Goodluck Jonathan of the
Peoples Democratic Party, Buhari and other presidential candidates, more than
seven days after displaying their particulars.
The
Director of Voter Education and Publicity in INEC, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, in
an interview , said the commission could not go beyond
its constitutional powers.
“What do you want INEC to do? INEC cannot
disqualify anybody and there is nothing we can do. We don’t have any power to
disqualify him.He didn’t bring it (certificates) and so there is nothing INEC
can do. INEC cannot disqualify him and cannot remove his name. It is only the
courts that can disqualify him, if they feel there is something wrong that he
has done. I am not aware of any (petition); none that I am aware of for now. I
am not aware of any (petition). I am not aware of any so far,” Osaze-Uzzi said.
Buhari had
in an affidavit which he deposed to at a High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja, explained that all his academic credentials were with the
Secretary, Military Board.
The
affidavit deposed to at the FCT High Court and dated November 24, 2014, was
stamped and received by INEC on December 18, 2014.
“All my
academic qualifications documents as filled in my presidential form, President
APC/001/2015 are currently with the Secretary, Military Board as of the time of
this affidavit. The affidavit is made in good faith and for record purpose”,
Buhari stated.
The
Nigerian Army had said it would readily release credentials and certificates in
its custody to serving and retired officers whenever they apply for it.
The
Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Olajide Laleye, had while reacting
to Buhari’s claim in his affidavit, said that his credentials were with the
military.
He said
the procedure for the retrieval or collection of the certificates was known to
all serving or retired officers of the military.
He said,
“Every serving and retired Army officer has, at least, a copy of his
certificates and credentials kept with the Nigerian Army while that same
serving and retired officer has copies of those same certificates and
credentials.
“And there
is a laid-down procedure to request for certificates. It is known to any
serving and retired officer. If you want anything checked in your file, you
simply follow the due process and it would be given to you because the
credentials belong to you.”
“The
Nigerian Army does not refuse to give anybody his credentials if the due
process is followed. Now, take note of this. Not only does the Nigerian Army
keep these things, the individual officers, whether serving or retired, have
copies.”
Also
speaking, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said he
was not aware of any petition against any of the presidential candidates.
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