OBMSGATEWAY

OBMSGATEWAY
Making Things Easy for Nigerian Diasporans back Home

Saturday, January 17, 2015

MIKE OZEKHOME, SAN: EQUIVALENT OF WAEC IS GCE, NECO NOT AFFIDAVIT

I know that Nigerians would be curious why this matter is just coming up for the first time and that after all this man had contested the last three Presidential elections.

I wish to state that I have done, by God’s grace, a lot of election petition matters and I know that up till 2011, INEC form provides that candidates should state their qualifications. 
In other words, just say that you have O’level; you have B.Sc; you have BL etc; then, you go and sit down.
But right now, the rule has changed. Form CF001 says apart from filling your qualifications, you must attach them; you must attach photocopies of your qualifications; and to attach means to bind; it means to glue-to. 
As we look at the form that you have filled, we have to see all your certificates attached to your form.
So, if you do not attach them, you have not satisfied the minimum requirements; it is therefore not proper to refer INEC to go on a wild goose chase by saying they should look elsewhere for my qualifications.
Buhari’s decision to refer INEC to the Secretary of the Military Board for his credentials is like an applicant referring the interviewer to the last place he or she worked.
That is wrong; the military board we are talking about will also be in possession of the document of the respected general.
Section 131 of the constitution is clear that the candidate must have not below school certificate level, or its equivalent, and its equivalent means GCE, WASC, NECO, etc; those are its equivalents.

No comments:

Post a Comment