NewswireLE reports that the National Officers’ Election Appeal Committee (NOEAC) has issued guidelines on how disqualified aspirants can appeal their disqualification to the Electoral Commission of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA). This comes after many disqualified aspirants found themselves in a dilemma when the NOEAC had not released appeal guidelines more than 48 hours after the final list of candidates was published by the electoral body.
While the ECNBA publication is dated May 3, 2024, the NOEAC publication on the guidelines is dated May 6, 2024. All aspirants may have received their notifications by May 3, 2024.
According to Part IX of the Second Schedule to the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended), the Appellate Body stated, “Any candidate who has been disqualified by the ECNBA in respect of his nomination or Candidacy may, within seven days of the notification of the decision, appeal to the NBA-NOEAC.”
The Election Commission had previously noted in a notice on its “final” list of candidates that “disqualified candidates may wish to exercise their right to appeal against the decision under Part IX, 2nd Schedule of the NBA Constitution 2015 (as amended in 2021).”
Among those disqualified by the electoral body for miscellaneous reasons are Joyce Oduah, Caroline Anze-Bishop, Sabastine Anyia, Osamuede Asenoguan, Mohammed Tsav, Chukwuemeka Mbamala, Felix Ashimole, Henry Chiduabo, Adejorin Abiona, Wahab Muhammed, Dhikrullah Balogun, and Ibekwe Nkiru.
Research indicates that while most candidates are eager to appeal the Election Committee’s decisions, the delay in releasing the guidelines left them unsure of how to proceed with their appeals.
The situation was exacerbated by the fact that the NOEAC did not provide any physical or email address through which candidates could reach the Appellate Body.
Despite the challenges, aspirants attempted to process their appeals, with some resorting to emailing the NBA secretariat for guidance.
In the absence of clear instructions, one disqualified aspirant mentioned sending his appeal to the personal email of the committee chairman, while another contemplated traveling to Abuja to physically submit his appeal.
Concerns were raised about the timing of the appeal guidelines, with some suggesting that they should have been issued well before the publication of the list of qualified and disqualified candidates.
Part IX of the Second Schedule to the NBA Constitution outlines the appeals process, emphasizing the timeframe for filing appeals and the procedures for the Election Appeal Committee to hear and decide on appeals.
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