The candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the July 14 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has rubbished the White Paper raised by Ayo Fayose-led government in the state to ban him from seeking political office.
He said that the Supreme Court had ruled against such White Papers in the past on the ground that a citizen’s right to seek elective positions in government cannot be breached based on the report of an administrative panel of inquiry.
Recalled that the controversial White Paper issued in January 2018 had barred Fayemi from contesting elective office in Ekiti for 10 years.
However, speaking on the controversial matter, ahead of the governorship election, which is barely fortnight away, Fayemi told Vanguard in an interview: “The White Paper cannot stop me or anybody for that matter. Yes, it used to be the case in this country that you can use an administrative panel report or a judicial commission report to orchestrate the ban of a political office holder, but that period has since gone because it became very clear that this was a witch-hunting tool.
“And this is a settled matter by the Supreme Court courtesy of the case between Atiku Abubakar and the Federal Government that you cannot use the report of a commission of inquiry or an administrative panel to ban anyone from public office.
“To the best of my knowledge, I have not even been asked to show up in any court over any allegation. Rabiu Kwankwaso also went through the same experience. He was governor in Kano, went to become a minister and, when he was about coming back as governor, then-governor brought a commission of inquiry report.
“Of course, it was rubbished and the man became governor. I am not the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) but there is judicial precedence.
“Therefore I am sure that the so-called White Paper is of no effect. If anyone has any concrete/verifiable case against me, he/she should prove it in court.”
