The Chairman of Kogi state chapter of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Mouktar Atimah has described the plot by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify the party’s governorship candidate for November election in the state, Barr. Natasha Akpoti as a pure compromise by the electoral umpire.
Atimah who alleged that the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the APC, is behind the script being played by INEC.
“It is unfortunate that the electoral empire which ought to be non partial, non partial and independent has allowed itself to be used by Kogi State governor who is desperately using every means to avoid facing strong opposition party like SDP in the November 16 election in the state”, he said.
According to him, the reason upon which INEC wants to disqualify his party’s candidate, Barr Natasha Akpoti and her running mate, Engr. Khalid Adams is baseless which he said has purely shown that INEC is compromised.
Also speaking, the spokesperson of Barr. Natasha Akpoti and Engr. Khalid Adams campaign organization, Odaudu Joel Minister said, “INEC cleared a 33 year old Mahdi Aliyu Gusau as running mate to the current Zamfara State governor and they both contested on the platform of the PDP in the March 2019 governorship election. The 33-year-old Aliyu is the current deputy governor of Zamfara State.
“Today, the same INEC plots to disqualify a governorship candidate on the grounds that the running mate which was to be substituted is 34 and consequently, a ‘minor’.
“The party came to substitute, INEC is rejecting substitution. Does INEC have the power to reject substitution of candidate when the time for substitution has not expired? Does INEC have the power to disqualify candidates brought forth by a political party?”, he querried.
