By Chuks Okocha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reacted to the claims of complicity levelled against it by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the controversy surrounding the educational qualifications of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, restating that the commission has no powers to disqualify any candidate sent to it by the political parties and has advised the PDP to challenge Buhari’s candidature in court.

INEC, which was responding to the allegations made by the PDP presidential campaign spokesman, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said if the ruling party feels so strongly about the matter, “it knows what to do”.

Speaking on the issue on Sunday, INEC’s Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Wale Uzzi, and its Director, Legal Services, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa, stressed that the commission has no constitutional power to disqualify any candidate presented to it by the political parties.

According to Uzzi, “In line with Section 31 of the Electoral Act, the commission has no powers to disqualify any candidate whose name has been submitted to INEC.

“This is the power of the law and it is expected that a political party in the calibre of the PDP should know this aspect of the provision of the law.

“If the PDP feels strongly about this matter, it knows what to do. It should take him to court and that is the only option. If any political party is aggrieved and is serious about it, the only option available is the court.”

He said Buhari had complied with the provisions of the constitution and Electoral Act because he had provided the commission with an affidavit to prove that he (Buhari) has the necessary qualifications to contest the presidential election.

Uzzi added: “It is not necessary to provide certificates but provide evidence that show that he is educated.”

Corroborating his colleague, Bawa said: “The law states that the candidate must be educated to a certain level and once you have sworn to an affidavit that you have the necessary educational qualifications, that serves it.

“It is the responsibility of the PDP to accept it or exercise the option of going to court. It is only the courts that can direct the commission otherwise.

“This is what the Electoral Act states in Section 31 of the amended act that INEC has no powers to disqualify any candidate presented by any political party. This is the position of the law.”

He further disclosed that some civil society organisations had already applied to INEC for a certified true copy of the academic qualifications presented by General Buhari and that INEC had obliged them the request.

Also, an email written on January 8, 2015, from the Public Affairs Officer of the US Army War College, Col. Kerr Carol, to INEC has confirmed that a “Nigerian, Col. Muhammadu Buhari was a graduate of the US Army War College Class of 1980 and earned a US Army War College Diploma”.

It further clarified that the Army War College first awarded master’s degrees to the Class of 2000.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/inec-pdp-should-go-to-court-over-buhari-s-certificate-controversy/198990/

Buhari should just show us the certificate even a forge one will be accepted.
Buhari is settin a bad precedence for the young and up coming leaders of tommorrow

Buhari will be a disgrace to Nigeria if he emergies as a certificteless president, the whole world will mock at us.

Redoil:
Buhari should just show us the certificate even a forge one will be accepted.
Buhari is settin a bad precedence for the young and up coming leaders of tommorrow

Make e show u? Who u be for d matter?


Olorun jor oh!!

Jega had said it all,by now PDP and JonaTAN will know that nothing for them

It is a shame that the People's Democratice Party subscribed to the show of shame by some disgraceful elements who are bent on maligning the integrity of the amiable General and the most noble Muhammadu Buhari. Only an insincere fellow will question the academic qualification of the general. The legal department of the PDP and the AGF should have naturally known that no law stipulates "Showing" of certificate, one only have to prove that he has acquired the minimum qualification. Buhari contested in 2003, 2007 and 2011 yet the PDP wouldn't use their mental faculty. I wonder how low the pdp will sink further, perhaps, they want to make Jonathan the sole contestant for FeBuhari 14 election. It won't work! Let me restate that Nigerians are united and has vowed to return Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo to power. Whoever has any objection should Go to court.

I dont know what all the noise is all about. why cant they go to court and spare us all the gibberish. And I can't imagine anybody is taking the I.diot FFK serious, a man that should be rotting in jail for stealing public fund. How can any sane person be questioning the educational qualification of a Maj. general in the Nigerian army.

And even after the confirmation from the US army war college these fools wont give up on the propaganda, are they going to now tell us that the war college has been compromised by APC, madness in this people is beyond limit.

If the PDP think GEJ will go to the polls unopposed then someone is running mad.