The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the APC did not commit any electoral infraction when it invited two governors from Niger republic to President Buhari’s campaign rally in Kano state on Thursday January 31st.
Two governors from the country, Issa Moussa of Zinder and Zakiri Umar of Maradi states, both in Niger Republic, were part of those who received the president in Kano state during the presidential rally.
This was greeted with widespread condemnation with the PDP leading the pack of those that condemned the APC for allowing governors from other countries attend a campaign rally. The chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus, had even called on the electoral body to immediately disqualify President Buhari from the presidential race.
“They came with monies and mercenaries to influence elections in Nigeria,” Secondus alleged on Thursday.
However in an interview with TheCable, the INEC director of Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said as far as he is concerned, the governors’ presence in Kano does not violate the INEC laws.
“They are not allowed to participate as either candidates or voters. But they can only observe the process. As far as I am concerned, their presence does not violate the constitution.” he said
Osaze-Uzzi added that only the courts has the powers to disqualify a candidate.
“INEC has no power to disqualify any candidate,” he said
