Ezekiel Nya Etok, a renowned political analyst, has come out to share his thoughts on one aspect of the former Anambra governor’s lawsuit that Nigerians should keep an eye on as the nation waits for the outcome of the petition filed by the Labour Party’s flag bearer, Peter Gregory Obi, challenging the victory of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Election Tribunal.
Etok, a candidate for governor in the recently completed general elections in Akwa Ibom State, stated during a Thursday night interview on Africa Independent Television’s “Jigsaw” program that the allegations of double nomination made by Obi against the APC’s Vice-President-elect, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, at the Tribunal are so serious that Nigerians should pay attention to what the Electoral Act says about them.
He stated: “In Obi’s petition, there are very sensitive and weighty issues of Law that I want Nigerians to have an open mind towards.
For example, the allegation of double nomination leveled against the APC Vice-President-elect. What is a double nomination? Section 35 of the Electoral Act says that anyone who knowingly, allows himself to be nominated by two parties or in two constituencies, his nomination shall be void, and nothing else.
That statement is so weighty. Because it also means that if out of 9 political parties, seven of them fall short of that provision, all their votes shall be voided. Nigerians need to keep an eye on these kinds of issues because they are clearly explained by the law and it should not be difficult for the courts to interprete them.
Credit: Legitvibe
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