High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that graduates who did not participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme are qualified to run for governorship election.
The court’s order come 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.
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