Alleged Past Conviction for Narcotics Trafficking: Peter Obi Questions Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Qualification to Contest Presidential Election

 In a recent court filing, Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate in Nigeria's February 25th presidential election, has alleged that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is now considered a leading contender for Nigeria's presidency, was not qualified to contest the election due to a past conviction for narcotics trafficking in the United States.

According to the court papers, Tinubu was fined $460,000 by the U.S. District Court in Illinois in 1993 for his involvement in narcotics trafficking. This conviction, if true, could disqualify him from running for public office in Nigeria, according to the Nigerian Constitution.

Tinubu is a prominent Nigerian politician who served as the Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007. He is currently a national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), the party that currently holds the presidency in Nigeria. He was also known as the Jagaban of Lagos.

While the court papers filed by Peter Obi have not been independently verified, they have caused a stir in Nigerian political circles, with some suggesting that they are part of a broader effort to discredit Tinubu's candidacy for the presidency. However, if the allegations are found to be true, it could have serious implications for Tinubu's political career.

Under Nigeria's constitution, a person is not qualified to contest an election if they have been convicted of an offense involving dishonesty or fraud. In addition, Section 107(1)(i) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides that a candidate can be disqualified if they have been convicted for an offense punishable by imprisonment for at least one year or a fine of at least N1,000.

If Tinubu is found to have been convicted for narcotics trafficking in the United States, it could be argued that he is not qualified to run for public office in Nigeria. However, it is important to note that the allegations made by Peter Obi are unverified and Tinubu has not been convicted of any offense in Nigeria.

the allegations made by Peter Obi that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not qualified to contest the February 2019 presidential election due to a past conviction for narcotics trafficking have caused a stir in Nigerian political circles. While the truthfulness of the allegations has not been verified, if they are found to be true, it could have serious implications for Tinubu's political career.