INEC verification is illegal, says Rep
Chairman, House of Representatives' Committee on Electoral Matters, Alhaji Hamisu Shira has described the proposed verification of candidates' particulars by INEC as ``illegal and unconstitutional''.
In an interview with News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, Shira said that there was no legal basis for the proposed verification, either in the constitution or in the 2006 Electoral Act.
He pointed out that it was the duty of political parties to screen or verify their candidate's particulars before presenting such candidates for elections.
``This verification or screening is illegal and unconstitutional.
There was no basis for it and why was the action not advertised when INEC announced the election timetable,'' he queried.
Shira recalled that in 1999, it was the party that screened its candidates, wondering why the parties were not left to verify their candidate's particulars this time around.
He, however, noted that if any candidate provided a fake document, any aggrieved person could challenge it in a law court, stressing that it was only a court of law that could disqualify a candidate, apart from the party.
Besides, Shira said that security agencies could equally screen candidates before an election, since they had the wherewithal to verify the candidates' claims.
`` My advice is that INEC should strictly abide with the provisions of the constitution and the Electoral Act,'' he said.
INEC had on Jan. 5 released guidelines for the verification of candidates' particulars, as claimed in their nomination forms submitted to INEC by the parties on December 22.
However, INEC Director of Public Affairs Segun Adeogun said that the commission would still go ahead with the particulars' verification as planned.
He stressed that INEC was empowered to conduct the verification by constitutional provisions on candidates' qualification in Sections 65, 106, 131 and 177, as well as the grounds for disqualification in Sections 66,107,137 and 182.
Adeogun assured all the candidates and the entire citizenry that the commission would not go beyond the constitutionally stipulated guidelines in carrying out its assignment.
``We will stick strictly to the grounds for qualification and disqualification stated in the constitution and the 2006 Electoral Act and as stipulated in our public notice of December 22, 2006,'' he stressed.
NAN recalls that INEC National Commissioner in charge of Legal Services, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar told newsmen on January 5 that the commission had concluded plans to start the nationwide verification from Jan. 10 to January 23.
He said that INEC officials would on January 10 to January 17 go to the states to verify claims and particulars of candidates for the seats in the State and National Assemblies.
Abubakar also said that the verification of the particulars of governorship candidates would be conducted between Jan. 19 and Jan. 21, while that of presidential candidates would start from January. 22 to January 23.