2023: CSO Writes INEC, Demands Delisting of Tinubu as Presidential Candidate

• There is a fresh attempt to get Asiwaju Bola Tinubu disqualified by INEC from the 2023 presidential election
• A civil society group in a letter to INEC, argued that Tinubu is not fit to hold public office in the country
• The group also drew the attention of the INEC boss to letters earlier served on the NDLEA and Attorney General of the Federation, over the issue

FCT, Abuja - A civil society organisation the Action Alliance of Virginia Pavilion, has called on the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to disqualify presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 general elections.

The group in a letter seen by Legit.ng on Tuesday, December 13, stated that Tinubu by virtue of his forfeiture of the sum of $460, 000 to the United States government in 1993 is not fit to hold public office.

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In the letter dated Monday, November 14 and signed by the group's lawyer, Mr Kalu Kalu, the group argued that Section 137(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution forbids anyone under a fine for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud from vying for the office of president in Nigeria.

The group also drew the attention of the INEC boss to letters earlier served on the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and Attorney General of the Federation, over the issue.

Part of the letter read:

"As evident in recent media reports you are already aware of the contents of the court proceedings referenced in annexure "L1". However, for ease of reference we hereto attach the said proceedings and is marked annexure "B"

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"Arising from the proceedings in annexure "B" we demand that you uphold your oath of office which enjoins you to perform your duties in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

"We, therefore, invite your esteemed attention to Section 137(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution which provides thus:

"A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if he is... under a fine for any offence involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or for any other offence, imposed on him by any court or tribunal.. . "

"Arising from the above provision we state clearly that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is disqualified from contesting the presidential election in 2023 in accordance with the above provision."

In supporting their allegations, the group referenced part of the court judgement which read thus:

"It is hereby ordered that the funds in the amount of $460, 000 in account 263226700 held by First Heritage Bank in the name of Bola Tinubu represent proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in financial transactions in violation of and therefore these funds are forfeited to the United States...

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"It is further ordered that First Heritage Bank shall issue a cheque in the amount of$460, 000 payable to Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and these funds shall be disposed of according to law."

The group described as "improper" the unwillingness of the commission to investigate Tinubu, over the issue, just as it threatened legal action.

2023: APC selling comedy of blunders, party chieftain says, dumps Tinubu

On his part, Chief Ray Morphy, a chieftain of the APC from Cross River state, has left the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

Rejecting Tinubu, Chief Morphy, a former special adviser to the party's former national chairman, Chief John Oyegun, said the country deserves more than the comedy of gaffes APC is trying to sell to Nigerians.

Morphy, a leader in the party's presidential campaign council in 2019, was also a pioneer member of The Buhari Organisation.

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2023: Returning APC to power suicidal - Arewa stakeholders

Meanwhile, the Northern Awareness Initiative has declared that it will be suicidal for people in the north to vote the APC again in 2023.

The stakeholders made the declaration on Sunday, December 11 in Kano at a press conference.

The group of northerners also announced that in subsequent days, they will educate those in the grassroots in the north on the need to vote out the ruling APC.

Source: Legit.ng