The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said it would never allow an ex-convict vie for office on its platform.
The party was reacting to the news that Joshua Dariye, a senator from Plateau State had obtained Senate nomination forms for 2019.
It said both the Nigerian law and its own constitution prohibit election of persons found guilty of criminal offences.
A copy of the form purportedly obtained by Mr Dariye, apparently through his loyalists, has been circulating on the internet since last weekend, and later made its way into dozens of media outlets by Monday morning.
Dariye has been in prison since he was convicted on July 12.
Mr. Yekini Nabena, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party told Premium Times that he has not been able to confirm that a form was purchased for Mr Dariye.
“I have gone to the list for Plateau State, I did not see his name,” Mr Nabena said. “But if somebody has managed to collect the form for him, he will be screened out. There is no way he can contest on our platform.”
“Somebody who has been convicted does not have a right to contest on our platform,” Mr Nabena emphasised.
