Our guidelines not targeted at Atiku -- INEC
INEC says its verification of candidates for this year's elections is not aimed at disqualifying Vice President Atiku Abubakar or any other candidate.
INEC had on Friday released guidelines for the verification of candidates' particulars as contained in their nomination forms submitted to INEC on Dec. 22 by the various parties.
The commission's Director of Public Affairs, Mr Segun Adeogun, said in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that the verification was in line with its constitutional duties.
Adeogun said that what the commission would do from Jan. 10 was verification of the particulars of each candidate and not necessarily screening.
He wondered how a mere constitutional exercise could be misconstrued and misinterpreted to suit the interest of some unpatriotic Nigerians.
He explained that the commission was guided on qualification by the constitution in sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 as well as on grounds for disqualification in sections 66,107,137 and 182.
The INEC image-maker assured candidates and Nigerians that the commission would not go beyond constitutional guidelines.
``We will stick strictly to the grounds for qualification and disqualification as stated in the constitution and the Electoral Act 2006 and as stipulated in our public notice of Dec. 22, 2006,'' he stressed.
Adeogun pointed out that Guideline nine which provides for indictment for embezzlement or fraud by a judicial or administrative panel and subsequent acceptance by either state or federal government was in line with section 137 sub-section I of the 1999 Constitution.
NAN recalls that INEC Commissioner for Legal Services Muhammad Abubakar told newsmen on Friday that the commission had concluded plans to start the verification nationwide from Jan. 10 to January 23.