Certificate: Only court can stop Buhari from contest — DPP

The Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) has said only a court of competent jurisdiction can order President Muhammadu Buhari to provide his WAEC certificate or disqualify him from running for re-election.

The DPP National Chairman, Mr. Gershom Benson, who responded to questions from newsmen during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held yesterday in Abuja, explained that the law of the land did not specifically say that presidential candidates must attach their certificates to the nomination form before submission to the electoral body.

“We are not happy that the issue of Buhari’s certificate is coming up again. He contested severally and was cleared by INEC in the past. So it is only the courts that can decide and issue an order that he must submit his certificates,” he said.

He also stated that it was too early to say that INEC would connive with any other body to rig the 2019 general elections for Buhari, who is candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I am not ruling out the possibility of any interest group rigging the 2019 general elections. But we should wait and see how the process will be driven to conclusion. Political parties should embark on aggressive campaign to stop any form of rigging,” Benson said.

He also cautioned INEC against altering the 2019 general elections timetable, insisting that all the elections should be conducted as scheduled.

The party urged the Federal Government to tackle the security situation in the country for elections to be held in all parts of the nation peacefully and transparently.