Convener and Chairman of Coalition for Media Politics and Governance, CMPG, Chief Dr Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe Esq, has said that it is a matter of choice for a cleared gubernatorial aspirant under any political party to display his or her Clearance Certificate, but not mandatory.
Oghenesivbe, who is also a lawyer, made the assertion while responding to a life phone in political programme on radio, monitored in Asaba on Saturday April 30, saying that there is no where it is stated in the constitution of Nigeria or the Electoral Act, for aspirants to display their clearance certificates on social media or any media platform for that matter.
“As you know there is serious politicking going on in Delta State, and people are bound to say all kinds of things. To the best of my knowledge there is no section of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended or any section of the Electoral Act, 2022, as amended, requiring aspirants to publish their party clearance certificates on social media prior to party primaries.
“And I know for sure that there is total Sheriffication going on in Delta State, which had triggered high level politicking, mudslinging, accusations and counter accusations.
“There was this rumour about discrepancies in academic credentials or something like that which in my view is part of the ongoing politicking and scheming by aspirants and their supporters.
“Such attacks are expected and may be targeted towards the most popular aspirant in the race, in order to reduce his popularity prior to party primaries. It is a mere political strategy but it will not stop the foreseeable winner from emerging as the PDP flag bearer on May 21, 2022.
“In all of these, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has not disqualified any governorship aspirant in Delta State. However, there are some lawyers who are yet to be called to the Bar by the Body of Benchers, but have already started practising law on social media.
“They (yet to be wigged social media Lawyers) are the ones spreading fake news, rumours and propaganda about a certain aspirant who humbly did not want to show off with his party gubernatorial clearance certificate on social media. Intact, they are insisting he must display the certificate or else heavens will fall.
“What is happening here in Delta via social media space is laughable and at the same time very entertaining.
“Delta Guber aspirants were screened on Thursday in Port Harcourt, and it appears everything went well for all of them. No reported cases of disqualifications,” Oghenesivbe said.