Lawyers divided over purchase of forms for Buhari, Atiku

Some prominent lawyers yesterday expressed divergent views over the legitimacy or otherwise in the purchase of nomination forms for President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar by two different groups.

A group known as the National Coordinator of Nigeria Consolidation Ambassador Network (NCAN) had on Wednesday presented a cheque of N45 million to Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the APC, for the purchase of the nomination form of Buhari.

Similarly, the National President and Global Coordinator for Women and Youth Support for Atiku (WAYS), led by Princess Adekemi-Adesanya Eboda, purchased the PDP Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms for Atiku at the sum of N12 million.

However, the PDP asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold President Buhari culpable for “violating” provisions of the Electoral Act.

According to lawyers, who spoke with Saturday Telegraph, the group’s gesture offends S91 (9) of the Electoral Act which states, “No individual or other entity shall donate more than one million naira (1,000,000) to any candidate.”

By this provision, the lawyers said, the group was in contravention of the electoral law, warning that if the president accepts the forms he would be liable to the punishment stipulated in S91 (10) (a) of the Act.

New Telegraph, September 8, 2018

 

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