The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC), has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to see to it that the name of Senator Peter Onyeluka Nwaoboshi does not make it into the ballot papers in the coming election.
SHAC in a peaceful protest in Abuja on Wednesday, cried out as regards what the advocacy group calls an injustice which breaches the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Making a plea to the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, an SHAC spokesman, Johnson Michael stated that the nomination of Nwaoboshi to serve as Senator for the Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State, goes against the law.
Mr Johnson’s argument was based on the fact that Senator Nwaoboshi on the 1st of July 2022, was convicted by a Court of Appeal and sentenced to seven years imprisonment, following a 2-countb charge of fraud and money laundering leveled against him by he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Establishing his point, Mr Johnson quoted that according to Section 66 (1) of the Constitution, “No person shall be qualified for election to the Senate or House of Representatives if:
“(c) he is under a sentence of death imposed on him by any competent court of law or tribunal in Nigeria; or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for an offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or any other offence imposed on him by such court or tribunal or substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such court;
“(d) within a period of less than 10 years before the date of an election to a legislative house, he has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty or he has been found guilty of a contravention of the Code of Conduct.”
Based on the premise set by the constitution, the SHAC through its program officer stressed that the provisions of section 66 (1) are absolutely clear on the issue of who is qualified to contest, a requirement which the group says Nwaoboshi clearly has failed to meet, following his conviction at the appeal.
The SHAC urged INEC under the leadership of Professor Yakubu, to ensure that Nwaoboshi is disqualified as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Senatorial elections in Delta North, adding a failure to disqualify and delist the lawmaker will amount to a serious disregard and fundamental breach of then provisions within the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The advocacy group said it hopes that the Commission will give the matter the consideration and urgency that it deserves, even as they remain certain that the law will be followed to the very last, lest any Nigerian be disenfranchised in the coming elections.
