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Sen. Dariye Gets APC Nomination Form Prison

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I Am A Chartered Accountant, I Wouldn't Have Stolen In That Manner - Joshua Dariye
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Sen. Joshua Dariye has picked up the All Progressive Congress (APC) nomination form for 2019 Elections, despite currently serving a 14-year jail term over financial misdeeds while serving as Plateau governor.

“Yes, Sen. Dariye has picked a nomination form to seek a third term. It is true. He is among those jostling for the APC ticket in Plateau Central,’’ Mr Chindo Dafat, APC Publicity Secretary in Plateau, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Tuesday in Jos.

“His (Dariye)’s ward secretary came and signed the form on his behalf. It has been filled and his supporters are already campaigning ahead of the party primary election,’’ he said.

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According to Dafat, the senator has filled and summited his form.

He added that three other candidates, Zakari Dimka, Sam Piwuna and Manji Pompori, will slug it out with Dariye during the primaries.

He said that Dariye had appealed his conviction and could have it upturned “because we are praying for him’’.

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Aside possible success in the appeal, we are also praying for a state pardon. That is another possibility.

“Dariye is very important to our party, unfortunately, this happened to him. It is not that we cannot win elections without him; we can win without him, but he has done a lot and is well loved by his people.

“Somebody could be in the hospital or prison and pick a nomination from from there. We have no right to deny anyone a nomination form. Even INEC cannot stop Dariye from contesting the 2019 elections.

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“There is no law that stops him from buying the form. Whoever comes for the nomination form can get it. I see it as a constitutional matter. Only the court can disqualify him.

“If Dariye wins elections from prison, he will not be the first Nigerian to do that. Iyiola Omisore, from Osun, once won a senate seat while in prison,’’ Dafat pointed out

The People Democratic Party in the state, has however, expressed its displeasure as regards the development, describing it as “shocking, strange and embarrassing’’.

“It is shocking that a convict serving a 14-year jail term will be given a nomination form to contest an election. This is just ridiculous,’’

The nomination form has a portion which requests aspirants to state whether they were once convicted; I wonder what information Dariye provided in that column.

“He ( Dariye ) is our illustrious son and we sympathise with him. We expect him to be sober and reflect on what has happened to him, instead of allowing himself to be dragged around by desperate politicians,’’ he said.

Shignugul said that the Plateau PDP executive council, led by its chairman, Damishi Sango, recently visited Dariye in Kuje prisons and prayed for him.

“We still pray that he will serve out his 14-year jail term and come out in good health.

“Dariye should equally be praying, instead of attracting unnecessary attention to himself,’’ Shignugul said.