Adebayo Shittu, minister of communications has dragged the All Progressives Party, APC, to court following his disqualification as a governorship aspirant in Oyo state over his National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, saga.
Shittu claimed it was wrong for APC to disqualify him from the governorship primary election for not presenting his NYSC certificate.
He asked the court to declare that the submission/presentation of NYSC Discharge Certificate to APC is not part of the requirements for him to participate in the primary election for Nomination of Governorship candidate of the party in Oyo State for the 2019 General Election.
The minister insisted that he went through the screening and security checks and was certified fit and qualified to be appointed as a minister.
He said participation in NYSC Scheme is not a condition precedent to be satisfied before he was appointed a minister.
He faulted the NYSC for not mobilising him for the scheme.
Shittu, through his counsel, A.U. Mustapha, SAN, has already written to the court on the matter.
In an affidavit he also signed, he said; “I was liable but not obligated to have participated in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme both at the time I graduated from the said University and as at the time I was called to the Nigerian Bar.
“ I know as a fact that no “call-up instrument” was served on me as at 1978 when I graduated from the said University by the National Youth Service Corps to have warranted my participation in the scheme.
“I know as a fact that I was also not served any Notice or notified in any manner to proceed to participate in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme.
“I know as a fact that participation in the National Youth Service Corps programme is not one of the requirements to be satisfied under the 1st Defendant’s constitution to enable me participate in the primary election for Nominating the party flag bearer for the office of Governor of Oyo State in the 2019 General Election. A copy of the Constitution of the 1st Defendant is hereby attached and marked as “Exhibit SHITTU 8”.
“I also know as a fact that under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) it is not a requirement for me to have participated in National Youth Service Corps Scheme to be eligible for participation in the 1st Defendant’s primary election for Nomination of its flag bearer in Oyo State for the 2019 General election.
“ I know also as a fact that the Electoral Act 2010 [as Amended] did not make participation in the National Youth Service Corps Scheme a condition precedent for contesting any elective office whatsoever.
“I know also that participation in NYSC Scheme is not one of the requirements to enable me take part in primary election for Nomination of the 1st Defendant’s flag bearer for the office of Governor of Oyo State in the 2019 General election.”
NAN
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