The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), should withdraw from the 2023 presidential race because he has allegedly “been convicted, sentenced and fined for narcotic trafficking in a criminal suit”.
The PDP’s demand was contained in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, and made available to POLITICS NIGERIA on Monday evening.
The PDP’s call comes hours after Tinubu’s camp asked security agencies to arrest and prosecute Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the main opposition party over a recent revelation of alleged collusion with former President Olusegun Obasanjo to fleece and loot public funds when they were in power from 1999- 2007.
“Having been convicted, sentenced and fined for narcotic trafficking in a criminal suit filed pursuant to the United States Criminal Code, Asiwaju Tinubu cannot by virtue of Section 137 (1)(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) seek office as President of Nigeria.
“The APC Presidential Candidate has not come out to deny the conviction and forfeiture or show evidence of any attempt by him to challenge or appeal the judgment, apparently believing that it will slide with time.
“Asiwaju Tinubu ought to know that time does not run against the State in a criminal matter!
“He should therefore withdraw from the Presidential race having been found ineligible and not qualified to run or to contest for the Office of the President of Nigeria under the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution,” the PDP’s statement reads in part.
