EDITOR’S PICK:
The presidency is the highest office that a person with political ambition can ever hold. An aspirant who is elected as president of Nigeria immediately becomes the commander in chief of the armed forces, a powerful role.
Because the presidency is such a powerful position, there exist regulations that guide possible candidates and automatically filter and disqualify any who do not match the requirements. There are offences that are undesirable for a presidential candidate among the behaviours that can disqualify a person from running for office.
A person is disqualified as a political aspirant if he has been found guilty of certain crimes or does not meet certain conditions, according to Section 137 of the Nigerian Constitution.
We will look at four of the offences that can disqualify a candidate under the law in this post. Among them are:
1. Dishonesty or fraud
Where the presidential candidate is under a sentence of death imposed by a competent court or tribunal in Nigeria or is under a sentence of imprisonment or fine for an offence involving dishonesty or fraud or for any other offence imposed on him or her by any court or tribunal and no appeal is pending in respect of such a conviction.
He/she will not have the right to run for the presidential seat of the country.
2. Forgery
Where the candidate has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
3. Drug-related offences
Where the candidate has been found guilty of an offence involving narcotic drugs or any other psychotropic substance by any court or tribunal in Nigeria or any other country.
4. Treason or treasonable felony
Where the candidate has been adjudged guilty of treason or treasonable felony by any court or tribunal in Nigeria.
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