CSO Writes INEC, Seeks Disqualification Of Bauchi APC Candidate

The Accountability and Democratic Project (ADEP), a non-governmental, not-for-profit Civil Society Organisation (CSO) has written the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding the disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Bauchi State, Abubakar Sadique Baba.

The group said it has been investigating credentials of candidates submitted to INEC and found out that he filed incomplete information and withheld important credentials that should be part and parcel of his EC 9.

In the petition dated August 15, 2022, signed by the executive director, Ahmad Muhammad and addressed to the chairman of INEC, said the deliberate omission of vital information by Baba kept them guessing.

“This deliberate omission also keeps us guessing if Mr Baba has anything he is hiding thus choosing to declare only a part of the credentials he claims to possess are necessary requirements for him to stand as a candidate in the upcoming election.

“It is in this light that we write your good office to draw your attention to this grave disregard for the law and ask that you apply the law appropriately by disqualifying the said Abubakar Sadique Baba.

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“This call hinges on the fact that the candidate is guilty of disregard for the guidelines, as clearly indicated, and for holding on information which he has sworn to possess.

“While hoping that you give expeditious effect to this request, in view of its importance, please accept our highest regards, “ the group said.

“As a grassroots organization with a bias for advancement of democracy through sustaining democratic practice and advancing growth of democratic ethos in Nigeria, we are happy with the close and faithful implementation of the historic Electoral Act by your commission and your resolve to rise above the shenanigans of mischievous political actors.

“Our organisation agrees with INEC under your leadership that cleaning up our electoral process is a sure way of hastening development of our country through production of right leadership at all levels.

“As part of our scrutiny of candidates aspiring for political offices for the February 2023 elections, we are currently going through submissions made by candidates to your commission as required by law.

“In the course of this, we have found, with concerns the submission made by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the governorship of Bauchi State, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique Baba (retired) where he filed in incomplete information and withheld important credentials that should be part and parcel of his EC 9.

“A cursory look at the form shows the candidate claimed that he was born in Azare. He also claimed to have attended St Paul Primary School and finished in 1973, and graduated. Curiously, however, the Candidate did not annex documents to prove all these claims that are vital to his overall credentials.

“As you are aware, by the provision of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution (as amended) persons aspiring for elective positions in Nigeria need to first be Nigerian citizens, by birth.

“Surprisingly, however, the very document that should prove to us the citizenship of the Candidate in question is not supplied. Anybody reviewing the document is also left doubtful about the primary school and secondary schools the candidate claimed to have attended as there is no evidential document to confirm that.

“We view this as a flagrant disregard of the Electoral Act and the INEC Guidelines as all candidates are clearly directed to attach all credentials they claim to possess to the EC 9 form,” the group added.