2019: INEC threatens to disqualify presidential candidates over age

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has
revealed that it will disqualify the presidential and vice
presidential candidates of some political parties over violation of
Electoral Act on the age stipulation of presidential
candidates.

The Commission`s chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu, who made the
disclosure at the ongoing three-day capacity building workshop for
journalists, in Abuja, lamented that the nation witnessed the most
acrimonious party primaries in the recent history of
electioneering.

His words, “So far, INEC has successfully implemented seven out
of the 14 activities strictly on schedule, including the conduct of
party primaries for all elections and the processes of nomination
of candidates.

“We did not, and will never, tolerate any breach of the strict
timelines provided for in the timetable for the elections.

“At the end of the period for the substitution and withdrawal of
candidates for the Presidential election, a total of 73 political
parties have now filed their nominations.

“Even so, a few parties have nominated candidates below the
mandatory age of 35 years for as Presidential and Vice Presidential
candidates.

“We have drawn the attention of the parties concerned to the
breach of the constitutional requirement ahead of the publication
of the full list of presidential and vice presidential candidates
for the 2019 general elections.

“For National Assembly elections, a total of 1,848 candidates
(1,615 male and 233 female) are vying for 109 Senatorial seats
while 4,635 candidates (4,066 male and 569 female) are competing
for the 360 seats in the House of Representatives.

“Similarly, the full list of candidates and their political
parties will be published for public information in line with the
Commission’s timetable and schedule of activities.

“As for state elections, a total of 1,068 candidates, 980 male
and 88 female, are contesting for 29 Governorship positions with
805 male and 263 female Deputy Governorship candidates.

“The Commission is working on the list of candidates nominated
by political parties for the 991 State Assembly constituencies as
well as the 68 Area Council Chairmen and Councillors for the
Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The full details will also be published for public information
in line with our timetable and schedule of activities.

“Unfortunately, we have also witnessed some of the most
acrimonious party primaries in our recent history.

“Internal party democracy is still a source of concern to our
electoral progress.

“So far, the Commission has been joined in 396 pending actions
in various courts across the country arising from the conduct of
party primaries and nomination of candidates by political
parties.

“We have similarly received 302 requests for Certified True
Copies (CTC) of documents, mainly our monitoring reports of party
primaries and copies of personal particulars of candidates.

“These requests are obviously a prelude to more court actions.
In addition, we have also received 52 petitions and protests from
aggrieved party aspirants.

“The implication of these challenges is that as we prepare for
the General Elections, we are also going to grapple with
pre-election litigations.

“Parties that fail to respect the democratic process in
selecting candidates during primary elections lose the moral right
to complain about secondary elections.

“I wish to reassure the nation that we shall continue to
maintain our neutrality as the umpire, registrar and regulator of
political parties.

Speaking further, the electoral umpire said: “In order to
effectively discharge the above responsibilities, the media needs
unfettered access to information.

“It is for this reason that INEC is today one of the most
accessible public service organisations to the media. With
eighty-five (85) media organisations accredited by the Commission
to cover our activities, the INEC Press Corps is one of the largest
in Nigeria.

“Our relationship with the media is not only at press
conferences.

“We have a system of quarterly consultative meetings at which
the media not only ask questions and seek clarification but also
offer suggestions on how systems and processes of the Commission
can be improved upon.

“We have also organised retreats such as this one to enhance the
capacity of the INEC press corps in their service to the nation. I
am proud to say that as a result of our robust and continuous
engagement with the media and other stakeholders in the democratic
process, INEC is today one of the most improved public service
organisations in Nigeria.

“The trajectory since 2010 shows continuous improvement in
service delivery in spite of the challenges we sometimes face from
other actors whose roles are not only complimentary but
indispensable to the discharge of our mandate.

“In the next 77 days, Nigerians will go to the polls to elect
their representatives in Government.

“Campaigns for Presidential and National Assembly elections
started 12 days ago on November 18, 2018. Campaigns for
Governorship and State Assembly elections begin tomorrow December
1, 2018.

“We can say that the 2019 General Election is truly around the
corner. Let me once again seize this opportunity to reassure the
country that INEC is ready and committed to free, fair and credible
elections.

“You would recall that on January 9, 2018, the Commission
released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2019
General Elections.

“For the first time in our history, the date for General
Election was announced over a year in advance.

“More specifically, the timetable lists 14 step-by-step
constitutional and other legal and other statutory activities
required of the Commission ahead of the elections beginning with
the formal Publication of Notice and ending with the election day,”
he said.

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