In recent time, I read on social media platforms claims from different quarters particularly from some local governments in Ibadan metropolis, where some party faithfuls are agitating that contestants for any political office in the forthcoming local government elections must be indigenes of Ibadan.
Many uninformed members of various political parties especially the ruling party in the state are still tied to the apron string of their archaic view of “indigenes supremacy”.
This spurious claim is being made without a recourse to what the constitution of the country stipulates in regard to people who are not naturally an indigene of a particular area but whose either parent or such person himself/ herself is born in the area or have lived in the place for certain number of years as stipulated by law.
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With a steady stream of outbursts and negative comments from some unenlightened party members about their extreme views and believe for fringe baseless claims of “only Ibadan indigenes we want”.
This set of people needs to be enlightened and reminded that leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character in accordance with laws but not about being an indigene of a particular town or city.
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The constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates the basic qualifications to be met by aspirants into various political office at federal,state and local levels of government. These qualifications are provided under chapter VI part I section 131 of the 1999 constitution.
– To qualify for the office of the President and Vice-President, the age requirement is 40years and above.
– Office of the Governor/Deputy-Governor- 35 years and above.
– Senate- 35 years and above.
– House of Representative- 30 years and above.
– State House of Assembly- 25 years and above.
– Chairman of Area Council- 30 years and above.
– Local government/ Councillor of Area Council- 25 years.
Citizehip- to qualify to contest for any political office, the aspirant must be a Nigerian citizen by birth.
Education- the basic education requirement to qualify as an aspirant for an electoral position in any area of government is School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent.
Party- to qualify as a political aspirant to contest for the office of the President and other political offices, the aspirant must be a member of a political party and be sponsored by that political party.
The candidate must be of sound mind
The candidate must have no death sentence or imprisonment or fine for offences involving dishonesty or fraud.
To qualify as an aspirant for any political office, the candidate must not be convicted within the period of 10 years for offences involving dishonesty or contravention of the code of conduct.
An additional qualification is that the candidate has evidence of tax payment for three (3) years immediately preceding the year of election.
If a candidate within a period of less than ten (10) years before the date of the election to political office , has been convicted and sentenced for an offence involving dishonesty.
Has been found guilty of contravention of the code of conduct
He is an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwise declared bankrupt under any law in force in Nigeria or any other country.
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Being a person employed in the civil or public service of the federation or state and does not resign, withdraw or retire from the employment at least 30 days before the date of the election.
Is a member of any secret society
Has been indicted for embezzlement or fraud by a judicial committee of inquiry or an administrative panel of inquiry or a tribunal and which the indictment has been accepted by the Federal or state government.
Has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Has been dismissed from the public or civil service of the Federation or of a State or of a Local Government or Area Council.
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 or
Has been adjudged guilty of treason or treasonable felony by any court or tribunal in Nigeria. Such person is not eligible to stand for election in the country.
In conclusion, any person who is disqualified for any reason stated above will not be eligible to participate in the electoral process as a political aspirant. The above stated reasons of disqualification or ineligibility is not about not being an indigene of an area as spelt out by the constitution
