The official spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has suggested that Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) risk a 12-month jail sentence for his controversial statement made in Kaduna State last week.
Bellnewsonline.com reports that Atiku had said that the north does not need Yoruba or Igbo candidates when it comes to the presidency, adding that the only candidate worthy of the coveted seat is him alone.
In his reaction to the comments which have generated heated arguments across the country, Keyamo, who is also the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, wrote on his verified Twitter handle on Sunday night:
“1. SECTION 97, ELECTORAL ACT, 2022: (1) A candidate, person or association that engages in campaigning or broadcasting based on religious, tribal, or sectional reason for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or the election of a particular candidate,
2. 2). commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction – (a) to a maximum fine of Nl,000,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both; and (b) in the case of a political party, to a maximum fine of N10,000,000.”