Ahead of the 2023 general elections in the country, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has called on all presidential candidates and others vying for elective offices to undergo the National Drug Law Endorsement Agency (NDLEA) drug integrity test and submit their medical certificate of fitness.

CNPP further called on all political parties to ensure that their candidates undergo drug integrity and health fitness tests ahead of electioneering for the 2023 general elections in September.

Besides, the umbrella body for all political parties, in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, demanded that the results of both tests be made public as part of efforts towards ending increasing terrorism and medical tourism by elected public officials.

Ezegwu said the CNPP had backed NDLEA on its proposal in April 2022 for drug testing to be included in the screening process for aspirants and candidates seeking elective offices.

According to him, NDLEA had written to the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging the party to include drug test as part of its screening of those contesting elective positions on its platforms.

“Probably, the NDLEA felt that as the ruling APC should be bold enough to set a precedent in the fight against substance abuse. But, why such an innovative idea and noble suggestion by an agency, which is responsible for combating illicit drugs, was turned down is what beats the imagination of responsible citizens.

“While the National Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yabayi Sani, rejected the proposal by the NDLEA, saying ‘the proposal portrays politicians as drug addicts, who must be certified fit to run for various elective offices,’ that perception is what makes it expedient to carry out the test and erase the stigma once and for all,” said Ezegwu.

Calling for the legalisation of drug test for public office seekers, the CNPP scribe urged all the political parties to cause their respective candidates to undergo medical examinations and drug integrity tests before the campaigns in September.

“We equally demand that the test results be made public as a commitment by political parties to the ongoing war against insecurity and to check medical tourism by elected public office holders in the country,” Ezugwu added.