By Mahmoud Muhammad Kano
The Daily Trust newspaper has clearly reported from INEC that, relying on the Supreme Court judgment, anyone who joins a political party after the closure of submission of party membership register has no candidacy, and his party will not be allowed to replace the candidate.
This is how Pantami’s case stands:
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, submitted its membership register to INEC before May 10, which was the deadline.
Pantami defected from the APC to the PDP on May 19, nine days after INEC closed the collection of registers.
Pantami emerged as the PDP candidate on May 26.
After the court judgment, the PDP conducted a fresh primary election on September 29 which again gave Pantami victory.
5-PARAGRAPH NEWSPAPER STORY:
Why Pantami’s Ticket May Not Stand Despite Fresh Primary – INEC Rule
Questions have continued to trail the candidacy of Professor Isa Ali Pantami following a report by Daily Trust quoting INEC that anyone who joined a party after the closure of party register submission is not eligible to contest, and his party cannot substitute him.
Records show that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, submitted its membership register to INEC before the May 10 deadline set by the electoral body.
However, Pantami defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC, to the PDP on May 19, nine days after INEC had closed acceptance of party registers.
Despite joining after the deadline, Pantami emerged as the PDP flag bearer on May 26, a development that now appears to conflict with the Supreme Court judgment being relied upon by INEC.
Even though the PDP conducted a fresh primary on September 29 after a court judgment, which Pantami again won, legal analysts argue that the fresh primary may not cure the defect of his membership status as at the time INEC closed its register.
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