We are not out to disqualify candidates --Iwu
INEC National chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu, reassured governorship candidates that their verification by the commission was not for disqualification.
Iwu stated this in Abuja at the opening of the last day of the three-day verification exercise for governorship candidates of NDP, NEPP, NMDP, NNPP, NPC, NRP, NSDP, PDP, PMP, NUP, PAC, PPA, PP, ANPP, PSP and RPN.
He said the exercise was aimed at verifying only four criteria set for candidates in line with constitutional provisions as well as sighting the original certificates of the candidates.
The INEC boss listed the four criteria as those of being a citizen of Nigeria, attaining 35 years of age, being sponsored by a political party and having up to school certificate qualification or its equivalent.
He explained that it was only the constitution that could disqualify a candidate, especially with respect to certificate forgery or any sworn affidavit.
“The exercise is open and transparent. We are not in the business of disqualifying anybody. It is only the constitution that could disqualify you,’’ he reassured.
He said in a case where a candidate was deficient in any of the certificates, the commission would only send such report to the party for substitution which could only be done between Feb. 5 to Feb. 13, 2007.
In attendance were PDP governors of Ondo, Dr Olusegun Agagu, Osun, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Nadada Umar of Bauchi, Dr Bukola Saraki of Kwara, Danjuma Goje of Gombe, Ibrahim Idris of Kogi.
Other PDP governorship candidates were Mr Musiliu Obanikoro, Lagos; Ifeanyi Ararume, Imo; Onyema Ugochukwu, Abia; Andy Uba, Anambra; Sule Lamido,
Jigawa; Muktari Shagari, Sokoto; Rabiu kwankwaso, Kano and Sullivan Chime, Enugu.
Also screened on the PDP platform were Gabriel Suswan, Benue; Adebayo Alao-Akala, Oyo; Ibrahim Shema, Katsina; Rotimi Amechi, Rivers; Liyel Imoke, Cross River; Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta; Danladi Baidu, Taraba; Murtala Nyako, Adamawa and Segun Oni, Ekiti.
Those who featured for ANPP included Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Kano; Sen. Ali Sheriff, Borno; Mahmud Shinkafi, Zamfara; Sen. Usman Al-Bishir, Yobe and Abubakar Audu, Kogi; Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Anambra and Sen Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun.
Among candidates who also came for the verification were Rep Duro Meseko, PPA-Kogi; Chief Oladipo
Olaitan, NDP-Osun and Abubakar Dogaro, NDP-Niger.
Speaking with newsmen after the exercise, most of the candidates applauded the INEC initiative, saying it was a welcome development aimed at assisting the parties in presenting credible candidates.
NAN reports that all PDP and ANPP governorship candidates came with their running mates while other parties said they were not informed that their running mates were to appear before the commission for verification.
INEC national commissioner in charge of political party monitoring, Dr Ishmael Igbani, said such running mates would have their certificates verified at a later date.
It will be recalled that INEC embarked on verification of certificates of governorship candidates of the 50 registered parties since Friday.
The commission would verify the certificates of Presidential candidates on Monday and Tuesday.