Ondo Guber: PDP asked to revisit qualification of its candidate

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Committee for Good Governance (CGG) asked the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to revisit the qualifications of its gubernatorial candidate for the forthcoming Ondo State Governorship election, Hon.  Alfred Agboola Ajayi.

Speaking in a press conference in Abuja Wednesday, the Solicitor to CGG, Barr. Ifesi Nwodo, asked the National Working Committee of PDP to ensure that only a placeholder’s name was submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the expiry date fixed for the presentation of the candidate.

Nwodo said it was not too late for the party to present a more credible candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if Ajayi has questionable credentials.

He cautioned PDP of the consequences of fielding a candidate with doubtful academic certificates by citing Section 29 (8) of the Electoral Act 2020 that reads:

“A political party which presents to the Commission the name of a candidate who does not meet the qualification stipulated in this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of N10,000,000.”

From the above, he said “the law expects that a political party even after holding the primary or any internal arrangement should be vigilant to ensure that it does not present an unqualified candidate to the INEC.

“To this end, the party should take a broader look at all its aspirants so that in the event of the declared candidate not meeting the constitutional requirements it will not be fixated on a fait accompli by any other particular candidate” he stated.