The opposition All Progressives Congress in Nigeria has dismissed claims that its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, is not qualified to contest in the elections that will hold on February 14.
The Presidential Campaign Organisation of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had on Saturday said General Buhari (rtd), was not qualified to contest in the presidential election, requesting that should present his primary school leaving certificate to the electoral body.
The Director of Media for the organisation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode, told reporters in Abuja that the inability of the candidate to present his credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) contravenes the provision of the Nigerian Constitution.
Mr Fani-Kayode said that the INEC erred in law by publishing the name of a candidate without receiving the particulars of the candidate within seven days of receiving his nomination forms as stipulated by law.
“It has been brought to our attention that the INEC, either by omission or commission, may be engaged in acts that do not in every material particular,support the advancement of democracy the rule of law and strict adherence to the letters in the spirit of electoral laws in Nigeria.
“The inability of the All Progressives Congress’ General Muhammadu Buhari, to present even the minimum requirement of just a leaving school certificate, questions his credentials for pursuing the position of the president of Nigeria.
“From what INEC has published, Buhari has not submitted any personal particulars of his leaving school certificate for the 2015 elections,” he said.
On Sunday, however, an APC’s spokesman, Lai Mohammed, dismissed the claims, insisting that Buhari could not have risen to the level of a General in the Nigerian Army without a primary school leaving certificate.
“Honestly it is preposterous for anybody to believe or to think that a person who has reason to the level of a general in the Nigerian army does not posses the primary school leaving certificate.
“There should be a limit to politicking and in our desperation we should not destroy the institutions that we have built over the years.
“Are you saying that the Nigerian army is so unworthy that a man will join the army without a certificate and he will rise to a general? He questioned.
A commissioner with the INEC said that the requirement was that the candidate should present a minimum of a primary school leaving certificate.
“You have told the world that I have the certificate. So, by that ordinarily you are qualified.
“It is not the responsibility of the INEC to determine whether Buhari or any candidate for that matter is qualified. The law is that it is that of the Judiciary.
“If anybody feels aggrieved that Buhari that Buhari is not qualified, the person should go to court,” the INEC Commissioner said.