Elder Aniedi Ikoiwak, a former resident electoral commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged the Akwa Ibom people to wait until the names of candidates are submitted by political parties to INEC and displayed along with other pertinent information as scheduled by the electoral body.
Ikowak, a two-term INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, provided the advice while interacting with news correspondents
He claimed that the national election board lacks the legal authority to exclude or reject candidates from political parties.
He urged INEC officials in Akwa Ibom State to restrain their remarks and maintain objectivity because, if their positions at the state level are overturned by the national electoral body in Abuja, Nigerians may conclude that the Commission was bought off for not supporting the state officials’ positions.
“Even if INEC is aware that a particular candidate is mad, INEC is not permitted to reject or disqualify candidates for political parties who have been submitted to her by political parties.
What can be done in this situation is for candidates and political parties that competed in the same election as the claimed mad individual to go before the court and request that the person be disqualified “.
The former INEC chief expressed his opinion in response to Mr. Mike Igini’s recent statement that a particular political party in the state cannot run candidates in the 2023 elections if it informs the electoral body of the dates, times, and location of its primaries.
He claimed that by doing so, the political party has complied with the electoral act’s requirements.
Also read: APC: Akwa Ibom Has Valid Elected Governorship Candidate- Bar Udo, Bar Jumbo
“It surprises me to hear an INEC official discuss political party candidates before the parties have even submitted their names to INEC.
“The deadline for presidential, senate and federal constituencies is June 17th.
“The deadline for governorship and house of assembly candidates is July 15.
At this point, INEC will be aware of what each party has submitted.
Even with this position, INEC cannot reject any candidate put up to it by the parties, until a court with appropriate jurisdiction rules otherwise “he declared.
“Candidates for the APC in the states of Zamfara and Rivers were not disqualified by INEC.
INEC lacks this authority.
Due to problems in their congresses, which weren’t the subject of proceedings brought by INEC, courts of competent jurisdictions disqualified them “explained Elder Ikoiwak.
