The All
Progressives Congress said on Tuesday that it would never allow an ex-convict
vie for office on its platform, saying both the Nigerian law and its own
constitution prohibit election of persons found guilty of criminal offences.
The
disclosure effectively sealed the prospects of Joshua Dariye, a Nigerian
senator from Plateau State who was recently reported to have obtained Senate
nomination forms for 2019.
A copy of
the form purportedly obtained by Mr Dariye, apparently through his loyalists,
has been circulating on the internet since last weekend, and later made its way
into dozens of media outlets by Monday morning.
Owojela's
Blog did not report on the form because Mr Dariye has been in prison since he
was convicted on July 12 and no one has openly claimed a purchase on his
behalf.
The APC also
remained silent on the reports since weekend, until Tuesday afternoon when its
spokesperson eventually told the Media the party’s position following
enquiries.
First,
Yekini Nabena said he has not been able to confirm that a form was purchased
for Mr Dariye, saying perusal of a list of aspirants who have paid for forms
from Plateau State turned up no information.
“I have gone
to the list for Plateau State, I did not see his name,” Mr Nabena said. But if
somebody has managed to collect the form for him, he will be screen out. There
is no way he can contest on our platform.”
“Somebody
who has been convicted does not have a right to contest on our platform,” Mr
Nabena emphasised, adding that he had been in touched with the party’s legal
department on the matter.
Mr Dariye
was Plateau State governor from 1999 to 2007. He was elected to the Senate from
Plateau Central Senatorial District first in 2011 as a member of the Labour
Party. He retained the seat in 2015 as a member of the APC.
On July 12,
Mr Dariye was found guilty of 15 counts of fraud and breach of trust by the
Gudu Division of the Federal Capital Territory High Court. He was subsequently
transported to prisons in Kuje, a suburb south-east of Abuja city centre, where
he is believed to have remained ever since.
The last two
weeks have seen several Nigerian politicians claim their supporters were
purchasing forms on their behalf. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a
presidential aspirant in Peoples Democratic Party, appeared to have opened the
season when he said on July 31 that his supporters paid N12 million to get him
the party’s nomination form.
President
Muhammadu Buhari’s loyalists followed suit a few days later on September 5,
paying N45 million for the APC form on his behalf. Several governorship,
senatorial and even local elections aspirants have since claimed similar
gestures from their supporters.
The
development has drawn criticism from political observers who called on the
president and others to reject such humongous ‘donations’ because they
contravene electoral laws.
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