Abide by constitution, electoral act, party supremacy to escape disqualification, legal icon tells candidates, politicians

A fellow and visiting scholar at Human Rights Institute, Columbia University, New York, Prof. Nnamdi Obiaraeri, has counselled politicians seeking elective offices to be mindful and conversant with all the relevant electoral laws to avoid legal infractions and attendant sanctions, including judicial disqualifications.

He mentioned laws such as, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended; the Electoral Act 2022; the political party constitutions and observance of the supremacy of political party.

Obiaraeri, a professor of Law, and former Dean of Law, Faculty of Law, Imo State University, Owerri, gave the advice at the weekend in a 32 – page paper entitled: “Role of the Judiciary in the Electoral Process in Nigeria- Myths and Realities,” he delivered at an event “Endorsement of Candidates Across Party Lines”, organised by the Founder of Save Imo, Nze Ebubeagu Ekenulo, and members of the non governmental body, at Protea Hotels, Owerri, Imo State capital.

At the lecture, which attracted Imo State Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Ford Ozumba, among other politicians and civil populace, the former Commissioner for Information Youth and Sports as well as; Lands Survey and Urban Planning, commended Ekenulo for leading the non governmental body, which peacefully assessed and singled some candidates such as, the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; Senator Osita Izunaso (All Progressives Congress candidate for Imo West Senatorial district); Chikwem Onuoha (Labour Party candidate, for Okigwe North Federal Constituency) among other 30 candidates from various political learnings irrespective of their political affiliation.

He noted that the parameters for the candidates to achieve before indicating interest to contest any elective office include, integrity, capacity, competence, philanthropy, selflessness, grassroots viability, popularity and fear of God.

According to him, candidates and electorate should be knowledgeable on the pre and post elections legal procedures, stressing that in a legal tussle, there must be a winner and a loser, advising that the loser should learn to accept defeat.

Obiaraeri maintained that judgments given by the justices are different from Justice, adding that this must be understood in the minds of the public.

He said: “If you lose, please congratulate the winner. Please feel free to congratulate your opponent. Let is be less acrimonious. A judgment is different from Justice. A court can give a judgment, but not justice…There is a difference between judgment and justice. A judge is entitled to make a mistake, but what the judge is not entitled to is to bend the law. You must obey the judgment of the court.”

In his speech, the founder of Save Imo, Ekenulo, said the essence of the exercise was purely democratic after a painstaking work that tools years, months and weeks, adding that the endorsed persons across party lines will help the electorate build and make their informed choices.

In their responses, Ozumba, Onuoha and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), candidate for Obowo constituency, Ebere Ugo, said they were pleased to be associated with the initiative of a non governmental body that used its modus operandi, to move the electoral space forward.