Buhari’s certificate: PDP doubts INEC’s sincerity

The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation has threatened to pass a vote of no confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Director of Media and Publicity of the organisation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, stated this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

He was speaking on the claim by the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj.- Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), that his documents were with the electoral body.

He said though the former head of state did not state the documents that were with the commission, Fani-Kayode said that this latest claim represented what he described as somersault from Buhari’s original position which was that INEC had his affidavit.

He wondered why Buhari should refer to anyone who had questions on his documents to the INEC’s Legal Adviser, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa.

Fani-Kayode said that the commission should tell Nigerians when documents go to it, adding that there was nothing on record about Buhari’s documents since December 18, 2014.

He also asked whether those documents were received after the time-frame specified by the electoral guidelines.

The former Minister of Aviation also asked whether this could be the source of Buhari’s alleged renewed “arrogance that anybody not satisfied should go to court.”

He also wanted to know if the commission has published the documents as required by law.

Fani-Kayode said, “The electoral body must come clean on this matter; otherwise we will be compelled to pass a no-confidence vote in it(INEC).

“If INEC is complicit in the desperate and despicable attempt to extricate General Buhari, without compliance with the provisions of the law, from this lingering embarrassment, we will have no other choice than to harbour the suspicion and fear that the electoral body is already compromised and can lead itself to the ungodly agenda of truncating our victory when our candidate wins.

“We also want the electoral observers to keep watch of the unfolding events regarding Gen. Buhari’s qualification or otherwise.”

He also said that while Buhari’s fist name is Muhhamadu, the name on his documents revered to him as “Mohamed.”

Fani-Kayode added that in other countries, the issue that would be germane was about obeying the rule of law and not protecting the political interest of an individual.