Graduates who did not participate in NYSC scheme cannot be disqualified from governorship election, a federal capital territory (FCT) high court has said.
The court’s declaration is coming as a result of a suit brought against Dapo Abiodun, governor of Ogun state, by Iyabo Anisulowo, a former senator.
It was discovered that Abiodun did not participate in the compulsory NYSC program, even though he finished his first degree in 1986.
But in his judgment on Wednesday, M A Mohammed held that the NYSC Act does not make provision for the disqualification of a candidate who failed to participate in its scheme.
He said that a candidate can only be disqualified under Section 177 of the constitution which states that “a person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if:
(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;
(b) he has attained the age of thirty-five years;
(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and
(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”
The case was however dismissed.
