Double Nominations: CSO Demands Arrest, Prosecution of APC Vice Presidential candidate, Shettima
A Civil Society Organisation on the aegis of ‘Center for Reform and Public Advocacy has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), calling for the arrest and prosecution of Senator Kashim Shettima, the Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group noted that Shettima was nominated twice by the APC for two different positions within an electoral circle which breached the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and therefore demanded his arrest and trial by the Police in accordance with the provisions of the law.
The petition which was signed by the Legal Adviser of the group and received by the office of the IGP on July 29, 2022, said that its grouse was predicated on the fact that Shettima willingly engaged in double nominations on oath contrary to the provision of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The Center specifically said that Shettima signed both the INEC form EC9 on oath as the APC candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general elections and later signed another INEC form EC9 as Vice Presidential candidate of the APC, stressing that the act contravened the law specifically Section 115(d) and (k) of the Electoral Act 2022 which attracts two years imprisonment upon conviction by a Court.
The petition further states; “That the All Progressives Congress APC in compliance with section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022 submitted the name of Senator Kashim Shettima to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general election.
“That Senator Kashim Shettima signed INEC EC9 form on oath which is his nomination form as the candidate of the APC for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general election.
“That INEC in compliance with Section 29, of the Electoral Act 2022, on June 24, 2022, published the name of Senator Kashim Shettima as the APC candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general election.
“That after the said publication of Senator Kashim Shettima, the APC on July 15, 2022 submitted the name of Senator Kashim Shettima to INEC as its Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2023 Presidential election.
“That Senator Kashim Shetima also signed INEC EC9 form on oath which is his nomination form as Vice Presidential Candidate of the APC for the 2023 presidential election.
“That Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State and the Vice Presidential position are two different constituencies.
“That section 115 (1) (d) provides: a person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years.
“That section 115(1) (k) provides; a person who signs a nomination paper consenting to be a candidate at an election knowing that he or she is ineligible to be a candidate at that election commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years,” it said.
The CSO also said that the fact that Shetima having signed two nomination papers of two different constituencies violated Section 115 (1) (d)(k) of the Electoral Act 2022, stressing that on the strength of that and having established a prima facie criminal cases against Shettima, it demanded for the arrest and criminal prosecution of the APC vice presidential candidate.
