The Chairman of the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega,
has explained why the commission can’t disqualify the Presidential candidate of
the All Progressives
Congress (APC), Muhammadu Buhari despite the controversy surrounding his
academic credentials.
Jega spoke about the
issue on Wednesday, January 21, during an interview on Channels TV programme,
“Straight Talk with Kadaria.”
The INEC chairman
explained that candidates who could not produce their certificates were allowed
to swear affidavits in lieu, like Buhari did.
“There
is a provision that the candidates should provide documentary evidence of
whatever qualification they have cited, but the law also permits that if you
cite documents and you don’t have photocopies, you can swear to an affidavit
and in this case, INEC by the provision of the section 31 of the Electoral Act
cannot disqualify an appropriately nominated candidate of any party,” Jega said.
“We
can deregister a political party, but the law says we must accept any
candidate; it is a matter for the court, they are free to go to the court,” he added.
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