Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN) has demanded from INEC and APC to effect the immediate reversal of the unlawful substitution of Mr. Aduku Emmanuel as the candidate of the APC for the Ankpa 1 Constituency of the Kogi State House of Assembly.
In a letter dated 1st August, 2022 signed by ALDIN President, Daniel Onwe esq and the General Secretary, Gaius Ogan Esq with the heading “UNLAWFUL AND FRAUDULENT SUBSTITUTION OF MR. ADUKU EMMANUEL AS THE APC CANDIDATE FOR ANKPA 1 CONSTITUENCY OF THE KOGI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY: DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE REVERSAL” written to INEC and APC, stated that Mr. Aduku Emmanuel who is a person with physical disability won the APC primary election of Ankpa 1 Constituency of Kogi State House of Assembly to fly the flag of the party at the election.
“It would be recalled that the primaries for Ankpa 1 Constituency of the Kogi State House of Assembly was held on the 26th day of May, 2022. The outcome of the said primaries was that Mr. Aduku Emmanuel won overwhelmingly as depicted in the result which is as follows:
1. Aduku Emmanuel 20
2. Lawal Akus 04
3. John Aduba 0
Based on the above primary election result, Mr. Aduku Emmanuel’s name ought to have been forwarded to INEC as the candidate of APC. Unfortunately, we understand that it was the name of Mr. Lawal Akus, who scored only 4 votes that was forwarded to INEC as the candidate of the APC. Mr. Aduku Emmanuel did not withdraw; neither does he intend to withdraw. Thus, there is absolutely no valid justification or basis for his substitution”.
The group stated that substituting Mr. Emmanuel, who scored 20 votes with a candidate who only scored 4 votes is not the type of case that can be condoned as an internal affair of political party. It is a brazen violation of the clear provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, which mandatorily provides that it is the name of the aspirant with the highest number of votes cast at the end of voting that shall be forwarded to the Commission as the candidate of the party. Also, it smacks of discrimination on the ground of physical disability, which is a criminal act by, virtue of Section 1 of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities Act, 2018.
“We are hopeful that INEC will not subscribe to such egregious act of lawlessness. Therefore, we urge you to use your good offices to ensure that Mr. Aduku Emmanuel is immediately accorded the due recognition as the candidate of the APC for Amkpa 1 Constituency of the Kogi State House of Assembly” the group further stated.
They equally urged APC to reverse this illegality to save the image of the party and prevent an avoidable and embarrassing legal action.
Reminding the party that substituting a candidate who scored 20 votes with a candidate who only scored 4 votes is not the type of case that can be condoned as an internal affair of a political party. It is a brazen violation of the clear provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, which mandatorily provides that it is the name of the aspirant with the highest number of votes cast at the end of voting that shall be forwarded to the Commission as the candidate of the party.
