RULING: A Nigerian appeal court has ruled that Nigeria’s electoral commission can bar candidates who are not qualified to stand for elections.
Correspondents say it is a blow to Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s hope of becoming Nigeria’s next president. On the other hand, a Federal High Court also ruled today that INEC should not disqualify him from the upcoming presidential polls.
Read More:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/6521615.stm
Tags: appeal, Atiku, court, disqualify, Federal, high, INEC, ruling
Breaking NEWS: Atiku loses at the Appeal Court, Presidential bid may be finally over.
Author: Admin Sahara
Saharareporters, New York
An five man Appeal Court panel composed of two females ruled in favor of INEC in Abuja today on the case involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Action Congress (AC) party on the question of disqualification of its candidates for the office of President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku.
The Appeal Court in a unanimous ruling cited the relevant provisions of the constitution as well as the Electoral Act of 2006 to buttress INEC powers to screen candidates for the elections contrary to the claim by the Action Congress (AC) that INEC had no such powers. INEC had claimed in subsequent defense that it has the requisite powers to disqualify candidates through screenings which led the body to disqualify the Vice President and Action Congress Presidential candidates, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku as a candidate. Atiku was disqualified by INEC as a result of indictments over corrupt practices.
The Appeal Court judges held the INEC has constitutional powers to disqualify Atiku and accordingly dismissed his complaints against INEC in a judgment that lasted 30 minutes
VP Atiku sources told Saharareporters that they will appeal the case at the Supreme Court, but some of his core supporters also said they have become worn out and may be looking to "move on" at this point in the case having put up a good fight on his behalf.
This effectively hands victory over to President Obasanjo, who had fought to keep Abubakar Atiku off the ballot as a presidential candidate in the upcoming general elections that is about two weeks away.
Breaking NEWS: Atiku loses at the Appeal Court, Presidential bid may be finally over.
Last View on Tue 3rd April, 2007
Last Modified on Tue 03rd April, 2007 10:13:40 am
Author: Admin Sahara
Saharareporters, New York
An five man Appeal Court panel composed of two females ruled in favor of INEC in Abuja today on the case involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Action Congress (AC) party on the question of disqualification of its candidates for the office of President, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku.
The Appeal Court in a unanimous ruling cited the relevant provisions of the constitution as well as the Electoral Act of 2006 to buttress INEC powers to screen candidates for the elections contrary to the claim by the Action Congress (AC) that INEC had no such powers. INEC had claimed in subsequent defense that it has the requisite powers to disqualify candidates through screenings which led the body to disqualify the Vice President and Action Congress Presidential candidates, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku as a candidate. Atiku was disqualified by INEC as a result of indictments over corrupt practices.
The Appeal Court judges held the INEC has constitutional powers to disqualify Atiku and accordingly dismissed his complaints against INEC in a judgment that lasted 30 minutes
VP Atiku sources told Saharareporters that they will appeal the case at the Supreme Court, but some of his core supporters also said they have become worn out and may be looking to "move on" at this point in the case having put up a good fight on his behalf.
This effectively hands victory over to President Obasanjo, who had fought to keep Abubakar Atiku off the ballot as a presidential candidate in the upcoming general elections that is about two weeks away.
Good news for all Democractic loving Nigerians. Atiku is not the kind of a person to be leading Nigerians. Congratulations to all !!!
I don’t belive Atiku is morally fit to be president, but beyond Atiku, there are two issues here:
1. INEC now has power to disqualify anyone. Considering that the current INEC is an extension of the presidency and the ruling party, this is an invitation to abuse. Look what’s happening in Anambra state, for example. If INEC must exercise such powers, the appointment of its commisioners be depoliticised first. The INEC chairman and commissioners must be appointed in the same manner as the CJN.
2. As presently defined, the type of "administrative panel of enquiry" by which Atiku was indicted is totally open to abuse, again by whoever happens to be in power at that point. If such a panel is to have such an important, its modus operandi must be clearly defined in the constitution.
" Hatchet Job, and Politically Motivated" are new lexicons that have found their way into Nigerian Politics. Alhaji Atiku has been indicted by several panels of inquiry, including even his own preferred set of senators. He would not accept their verdict. As it is now, we need judges from heaven to convince Alhaji Atiku, that he is corrupt. Let us call a Spade a Spade and stop trying to fool the people with eloquence. Even a 3rd grader would easily understand what is written in the constitution, but Atiku and his cronies want Nigerians to believe he is a victim, when infact, Nigerians are the victims of his corrupt practices. He was instrumental in stopping third term and deserves credit for that. Had he resigned at the time, he would have remained a legend in the mind of Nigerians as one who fought for democratic principles. Now, history would judge him as one who tried to get away with corruption. You can fool the people sometime, but you can’t fool the people all the time. No corrupt politician has any business ruling Nigeria. I am amazed that somebody with a cloud of corruption hanging over his head still has the ability to speak in public. Enough is Enough. What Nigerians need now is some sanity in the system.