Victor EzejaAs the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue their exchange while campaigning, the PDP has launched another diatribe claiming that the ruling party has no presidential candidate in the upcoming 2023 elections.
During an interactive session on Sunday, November, 13, 2022, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba claimed that the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not qualified to contest for the office because of his alleged indictment over involvement in drug trafficking scandal in the 1990s in the United States of America.
Tinubu’s team and the APC has in recent times been battling to clear the air on the issues of alleged indictment raised by critics questioning his eligibility for the presidential contest.
This is not the first time such allegation has come up against Tinubu as it surfaced in the media in the twilight of the 2015 election.
Social media has been agog in the last one week with reports of documents of the United States District Court judgement from the Northern District of Illinois which allegedly took possession of money in a bank account in the country held in the name of Bola Tinubu.
The said judgment dated July 26, 1993, and certified by Thomas O. Burton, the clerk of the court, puportedly indicted Tinubu of heroin trafficking in the state of Illinois through a proxy organisation owned by Adegboyega Mueez Akande, and consequently ordered the forfeiture of the sum of $460,000 found in his account deemed to be proceeds from the illicit business.
The funds were said to have been held by First Heritage Bank and Citibank in trust for Tinubu.
The allegation has continued to generate mixed reactions from Nigerians especially on social media.
The PDP national Publicity Secretary said “It is no longer news that the Presidential Candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is irredeemably and hopelessly ineligible to contest the February 2023 Presidential election having been reportedly indicted and subjected to criminal forfeiture judgement for a narcotic related offence by a United States Court in Northern Illinois.”
Ologunagba argued that according to “the provision of Section 137 (1) (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) Asiwaju Tinubu is not eligible to contest the Presidential election in Nigeria.”
According to him, the section provides that anyone found to have been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving fraud by any competent court or tribunal is not qualified for an election.
The PDP chieftain accused the APC of “scheming to create tension, induce violence, frustrate the conduct of the 2023 general elections.”
He also accused the the ruling party of being behind the recent attacks on PDP supporters in Kaduna and Borno States, adding that “The plan of the APC is to instill fear in the citizenry, disorganize and weaken other political parties, frighten, hamstring and immobilize INEC from conducting the 2023 general elections.”
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remain focused in carrying out its duties in line with the constitution and the Electoral Act and not succumb to balckmail from the APC to ensure integrity in the electoral process.
“The PDP calls on INEC not to succumb to the blackmail of the APC but to be focused and carry out its duties in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act so as the engender confidence in the citizens with respect to the integrity of those seeking public office in our country,” Ologunagba stated.
Reacting to the allegations, Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson, Festus Keyamo had through his verified Twitter handle described it as a hatchet job orchestrated by the APC Presidential candidate’s opponents, adding that they are fighting a lost battle and is a “sign of frustration”.
Keyamo in his latest tweet, said anyone with concrete evidence against Tinubu should head to court and launch a litigation against him.
“Most irresponsible statement. Why not file an action in court if there is a good case? Is a Press Conference a court of law? PDP is at its wit’s end on the way forward, hence its resort to blackmail and the parade of the US tissue papers. Sorry, defeat is just around the corner.”
In another tweet on Monday morning, @fkeyamo wrote”
“The losing opposition parties have now converted Social Media to their judiciary. If one has any potent disqualifying document, head straight to the court of law & stop parading social media, looking for validation and attempting to convert likes and retweet to court judgment!”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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