KOGI GUBER: INEC planning to use technicalities to disqualify some candidates, APM alleges

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of plotting to use technicalities to disqualify some candidates ahead of the Kogi State governorship election scheduled for November 16.

The allegations were leveled against the electoral body by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) which said information at its disposal confirms INEC’s plot.

According to APM National Chairman, Mr Yusuf Dantalle, who spoke at a news conference on Monday in Abuja, INEC is plotting to subvert the processes of the state election.

Dantalle added that the electoral commission wrote a letter to the party on Sept. 13, notifying it that its nomination for Kogi deputy governor, Mr Awombo Bala, was invalid because he was 30 years.

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He said that Bala was nominated on the Not Too Young to Run Act signed by President Muhammadu Buhari before the 2019 general elections, “but INEC said the age required by the constitution was 35 years”.

However, Dantalle said the party is making moves to replace Bala with Mrs Olayemi Joledo-Ayomah, since the Electoral Act allowed political parties to make substitution of candidate within a time frame.

“It is in the law that if you are duly nominated, INEC will make provisions for withdrawal and replacement of candidates.

“As I am talking to you 13 political parties have not been allowed to key into the political process.

“We went to INEC office with our response but they did not attend to us. INEC wants to technically disallow it.

“I was approached to withdraw from the contest. Now, for those of us who refuse to withdraw, the plan is to use INEC to use legal technicality to disqualify us,” he alleged.

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