Nigeria: dispute over presidential candidacy

The Head Heeb on the dispute over the Nigerian Vice-President candidacy, “The root cause of the controversy is Article 137 of the constitution, which prohibits any person indicted for fraud or embezzlement from running for president, as well as similar clauses disqualifying indicted persons from standing for the national assembly or senate. In recent months, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has indicted dozens of candidates, and it has been increasingly accused of targeting opposition candidates who pose a threat to the ruling party.”

8 comments

  • eze paul ndubuisi

    considering the controversy, i think it is necessary to give every cadidate the right of contessing to prtect the image of democracy.

  • eze paul ndubuisi

    i mean the disput can be over by giving every candidate the right to participate instead of disqulification. this will protect the image of democracy in nigeria.
    let the candidate participate so that the masses will make their choice

  • Mark Chiahemen

    It is only the courts of law that can disqualify any candidate in Nigeria not INEC or EFCC, so every candidate stands the right to contest the election. The government should not impose a candidate on the poor masses. Let us choose a person of our choice.

  • Raymond U. Temisaren

    Nigeria is so corrupt ridden that when you try to tackle it, people will view it as if it is targeted against some group of person. The truth is that, we need to start from somewhere somehow, to get this cankerworm and those corrupt leaders out of the society. Nigerians knows that all those listed in the EFCC indictment are all corrupt. Those corrupt leaders wants to use politics and legal aid(corrupt Judiciary) to cover their acts. We know them more than the International community. Let us support EFCC and we will make our country a better place. Today is Vice President and his cohorts, tomorrow will be President’s turn to be prosecuted. If we give EFCC the necessary support, it will catch up with all corrupt leaders.

  • Raymond U. Temisaren

    I do not see any dispute over any Presidential candidate. Going by the constitution, it is only an ignorant person will say INEC do not have power to disqualify. Like the Chairman of INEC said, it is the constitution that disqualifies not INEC. INEC has the responsibility to adhere to the constitution criteria set out when it comes to disqualification of a candidate. Are we saying somebody that has completed two terms of office as Governor or President on different period(democratically) can present him/herself for clearance and expect INEC to clear such person?

  • Cyril

    I really dont know what to think of our nation.However, we cannot use evil to fight evil.A corrupt leader cannot fight corruption or corrupt leaders. We do not have a leader who can stand up with his head high, and its unfortunate, I do not see any among the current presidential aspirants. GOD save Nigeria and Bless this Nation. LORD, Raise for us a leader who will bring corruption crawling and cause all corrupt officials and leaders to flee this nation. NIGERIA WILL FLOURISH

  • I am please with the judiciary position on the issue of INEC right to disqualify candidates contesting for elective position.

  • Zaza

    INEC does not have the right and the jurisdiction to carry on the way it has done so far. Nigeria is so corrupt that I wish we can be re-colonilized again. I am sorry to say this but that is how I feel considering the type of wickedness and torture the Nigerian masses are suffering in the hands on our present rulers who disguise as democrats.

    Anything is better than this cancer of corruption eating deep into the marrow of our very being. The government use the police, the army, EFCC and the state security to intimidate innocent Nigerians.

    As for wether Atiku should be disqualified, it is history now. I know they have been rigging the elections becuase people I know could not vote and even in whole local governments where no voting took place they declared the ruling party winner. I am so terrified of what will happen to my country after today. This government has raped and abused Nigeria. And if they come back to power we are doomed.

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