Former Lawmakers Urge INEC to Limit Disqualification Powers Over Candidates

Former lawmakers and political leaders are warning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be careful when using its power to disqualify election candidates. This caution comes after INEC disqualified some candidates from the final list for upcoming governorship elections.

Among those expressing concern are Senator Kola Balogun from the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Kogi State House of Assembly Speaker Abdullahi Bello, and Umar Sani from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). They argue that INEC does not have the legal authority to disqualify candidates who have been nominated by their political parties.

Senator Balogun pointed out that the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act clearly outline INEC’s role, which is to organize and supervise elections, not to decide if a candidate is qualified. He emphasized that disqualification should be a matter for the courts, not an administrative decision by INEC.

Abdullahi Bello supported this view, stating that the Constitution specifies the conditions under which a candidate can be disqualified. He noted that INEC’s role should not include disqualifying candidates unless a political party fails to follow the rules regarding primaries.

Alhaji Rahman Owokoniran from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) also raised concerns. He argued that the electoral laws seem to favor the ruling party and restrict others from participating fully in elections. He stressed that the Constitution protects citizens’ rights to participate in elections as long as they meet the necessary requirements.

Umar Sani added that while INEC can manage its processes, it should not overstep its bounds and disqualify candidates without a valid legal basis. He questioned whether the recent disqualification of a PDP candidate was due to legitimate legal reasons or political motivations.