The Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and its guidelines.

HEDA appealed following controversies surrounding the availability, validity or otherwise of certificates of candidates seeking elective positions in the country.

A statement by HEDA chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, called on the INEC chairman not to be distracted or intimidated by politicians who fall short of the requirements and provisions of the act ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“As a leading anti-corruption organisation and non-partisan human rights and development league, we call on INEC to be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act and its guidelines,” Mr Suraju said.

He urged the commission to reject the submission of affidavits in place of certificates by candidates due to the several controversies around swearing of affidavits which are well known to the commission.

Mr Suraju said the agency was following up on politicians’ “crooked games” and “unfounded tales by moonlight” on the whereabouts of their certificates.

“The most recent news are that of candidates claiming their school certificates are missing.

“Nigerians cannot be cowed by malicious and mendacious claims emanating from the political class.

“We believe that the commission’s guidelines towards preparation for the 2023 general elections to political parties and the public are clear enough on presentation of certificates,” he said.

The anti-corruption crusader said that no one was above the law, and everyone, irrespective of their social class, is expected to comply with provisions of the law strictly.

He said that it is general knowledge that anyone who claims to have misplaced their certificate could always apply to the awarding institution for issuing another copy or Certified True Copy of the certificate or his transcript.

“We demand that your commission communicate the invalidity of affidavits as submitted by some candidates in the forthcoming elections to all affected candidates and their parties.

“Failure to undertake this statutory responsibility will leave HEDA with no other option than to approach a competent court of jurisdiction for an order restraining your commission from recognising such candidates,” he warned.

Last month, the presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, informed INEC that he didn’t attend primary and secondary schools.

Also, Mr Tinubu claimed that soldiers stole the two degrees he had from two American universities in the 1990s.

Vice presidential candidate of opposition Peoples Democratic Party also announced that his secondary certificate was missing though he claimed he made the second best results nationally in the 1976 West Africa School Certificate examinations.

(NAN)