Abide by constitution, electoral act to avoid disqualification, don tells candidates
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at the weekend, assured the business community in Enugu State of its readiness to conduct peaceful and transparent elections that would reflect the will of Nigerians.
The Commission gave the assurance when members of the Enugu Coalition of Business and Professional Associations (ECOBPA), led by its Chairman and President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Jasper Nduagwuike, visited its office in Enugu.
The Commission’s Administrative Secretary, Chidi Nwafor, said the Commission was encouraged by the enthusiasm people of the state had shown in the forthcoming elections, stressing that more people have collected their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) than previous elections.
He said: “We have started training for the election, as well as presiding officers.
Movement of non-sensitive materials has commenced to the 17 councils, and we have improved security in the councils. I am confident that, in the coming elections, more people will vote, because more PVCs have been collected than past elections. So, we are ready; we are in the election mood.”
Nduagwuike had stated that they were at the Commission to interact with them on their readiness for the exercise, considering that a flawed process could have negative implication on the economy, especially on the organised private sector.
ALSO, 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 relevant electoral laws to avoid legal infractions and attendant sanctions, including judicial disqualifications.
He mentioned the 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, Faculty of Law, Imo State University, Owerri, gave the advice, at the weekend, in a 32 -paged paper entitled, ‘Role of the Judiciary in the Electoral Process in Nigeria: Myths and Realities,’ which he delivered at an event, ‘Endorsement of Candidates Across Party Lines,’ organised by the founder of Save Imo, Ebubeagu Ekenulo, and members of the non-governmental body, at Protea Hotels, Owerri, the state capital.
The former Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports commended Ekenulo for leading the non-governmental body.
He noted that integrity; capacity, competence, philanthropy, selflessness, grass roots viability, popularity, and fear of God should be the considerations for any candidate before indicating interest to contest for any elective office.
