A Civil Society organization, the Center for Reform and Public Advocacy, has called for the detention and prosecution of Senator Kashim Shettima, the APC’s vice presidential candidate.
The group that filed a plea with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) is calling for Shettima to be charged with filing two nominations for the general election in 2023.
Shettima was accused of being nominated twice by the APC for two separate seats at the same time in flagrant violation of the Electoral Act 2022. He would run alongside former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the presidential election the following year.
The petition claims that Shettima signed two INEC forms EC9 under oath: one as the APC’s vice presidential candidate and the other as the party’s candidate for the Borno Central Senatorial District in the general elections of 2023. This is thought to have violated the law.
Shetima is said to have explicitly violated sections 115(d) and (k) of the Electoral Act 2022 by signing two nomination forms for two distinct constituencies. A conviction for this offense carries a two-year prison sentence.
The group claimed to be a non-governmental organization working to establish good governance, accountability, probity, and openness in public institutions in the petition, which was signed by the group’s legal adviser and received by the IGP’s office on July 29.
The group complained that Shettima had willingly participated in twice nominating candidates in violation of the Electoral Act of 2022 and that she should be detained by the police and tried as required by the law.
The petition obtained by InsightnaijaTV correspondent read in part: “That the All Progressives Congress, APC, in compliance with section 29 of the Electoral Act, 2022, submitted the name of Senator Kashim Shetima to the Independent National Electoral Commission as its candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general election.
“That Senator Kashim Shetima signed INEC EC9 form on oath which is his nomination form as the candidate of the APC for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general election.
“That INEC in compliance with section 29 of the Electoral Act 2022 on June 24, 2022, published the name of Senator Kashim Shetima as the APC candidate for Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State for the 2023 general election.
“That after the said publication of Senator Kashim Shetima, the APC on July 15, 2022 submitted the name of Senator Kashim Shetima to INEC as its Vice Presidential Candidate for the 2023 Presidential election.
“That Borno Central Senatorial District of Borno State and the Vice Presidential position are two different constituencies. pp
“That section 115 (1) (d) provides: a person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum term of imprisonment for two years.
“That Senator Kashim Shetima having signed two nomination papers of two different constituencies violates section 115 (1) (d)(k) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“On the strength of the foregoing, having established a prima facie criminal cases against Senator Kashim Shetima, we therefore most respectfully, demand arrest and criminal prosecution of Senator Kashim Shetima for contravening section 115 (1) (d) (k) of the Electoral Act 2022.”
