INEC: presidential candidate, 3 VP, 40 others may be disqualified

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) may disqualify 43 candidates for failing to meet the minimum age requirements specified in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for candidates seeking elective offices.

Also, the candidacy of 102 others is being threatened for “undefined” identity. They include 23 senatorial and 79 House of Representatives candidates.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, in the presentation he made at the Council of State meeting on Tuesday, said one of the 72 presidential candidates is less than 35 years of age, which is the minimum age allowed by the constitution

According to Prof. Yakubu, three of the vice presidential candidates are less than 35 years while 14 senatorial and 25 House of Representatives candidates are less than 30 and 25 respectively, which is the minimum age recommended by the constitution for occupants of the positions.

He told the meeting that 17 presidential candidates are within the age bracket of between 35 and 45 years, while 27 are between 46 and 55 years, and 20 between 56 and 65 years. Seven candidates are above 65 years.

For the vice presidential candidates, the INEC Chairman said 34 are between the age of 35 and 45, 19 between 46 and 55, 14 between 56 and 65, and two above 65 years.

Prof. Yakubu also disclosed that 621 senatorial candidates are between 30 and 40 years, 527 between 41 and 50 while 497 are between 51 and 60. He added that 222 are above 60 years old.

He added that 1, 262 House of Representatives candidates are between 25 and 35 years, 1, 603 between 36 and 45 years; 1, 524 between 46 and 60 years while 187 candidates are above 60 years of age.

Prof. Yakubu told the council that “the 2019 general elections will be the largest single-day peacetime logistics and security undertaking by the commission since 1999 with 84 million voters, 91 political parties, 23, 213 candidates vying for 1, 558 positions involving over 814,000 electoral officers.

“INEC is fully aware of the enormity of conducting the 2019 general elections and will spare no effort safeguarding the integrity and credibility of our elections and consolidation of our democracy.”