Niger Republic governors’ presence at Buhari’s campaign in Kano does not violate any law – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly said that the presence of some governors from Niger Republic at President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign rally in Kano state did not violate any Nigerian law.

Two governors from the Niger Republic, Issa Moussa of Zinder and Zakiri Umar of Maradi, were present at President Buhari’s campaign in Kano.

The Cable reports that the INEC director of Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, in an interview said the Nigerien governors’ presence at the APC rally in Kano does not violate the law “as far as I am aware”.

Osaze-Uzzi said the law only prohibits foreigners’ direct involvement in the electoral process.

“They are not allowed to participate as either candidates or voters,” he was quoted to have said.

“But they can only observe the process. As far as I am concerned, their presence does not violate the constitution.”

He also said the commission has no powers to disqualify the president as the PDP demanded, adding that only the courts have such power. “INEC has no power to disqualify any candidate,” he said.