By Estelle Shirbon
Abuja - Nigeria's anti-corruption squad has named 130 candidates in April elections as unfit to hold office, including Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in a move opposition parties said was biased against them.
Abubakar, running for president on an opposition ticket after he fell out with President Olusegun Obasanjo, is the most prominent name on the list drawn up by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A spokesperson said the commission had written to political parties this week with lists of names, advising them to withdraw those candidates rather than see them disqualified later.
'It's advisory but we expect them to take action'
He said the EFCC would press charges "at the appropriate time" but did not explain why it was not doing so already.
"It's advisory but we expect them to take action. If they don't, the parties stand to lose when these people are prosecuted as they certainly will be," said Osita Nwajah.He said the EFCC would press charges "at the appropriate time" but did not explain why it was not doing so already.
Nigerians are due to elect their president, state governors and national and state legislators in April in elections that should mark the first democratic transition from one civilian government to the next in Africa's most populous nation.
The anti-corruption commission, created by Obasanjo in 2003, vowed last year that it would act to stop tainted politicians from gaining office. But the opposition accuses it of targeting Obasanjo's opponents while leaving his allies undisturbed.
The commission's black list includes 51 candidates from the ruling People's Democratic Party, 35 from the opposition All Nigeria People's Party and 27 from another big opposition party, the Action Congress, Nwajah said.
Nigerians are due to elect their president, state governors and national and state legislators in April in elections that should mark the first democratic transition from one civilian government to the next in Africa's most populous nation.The anti-corruption commission, created by Obasanjo in 2003, vowed last year that it would act to stop tainted politicians from gaining office. But the opposition accuses it of targeting Obasanjo's opponents while leaving his allies undisturbed.The commission's black list includes 51 candidates from the ruling People's Democratic Party, 35 from the opposition All Nigeria People's Party and 27 from another big opposition party, the Action Congress, Nwajah said. Engaged in a vitriolic war of words
In contrast, they said, opposition parties were being asked to withdraw their most prominent members from the races for the presidency, state governorships or seats in the national senate.
"EFCC will only be unleashed on political opponents of Mr President so we're not surprised to see that they're going for top opposition figures but only inconsequential people in the ruling party," said Lai Mohammed of the Action Congress.
He said his party, which has Vice President Abubakar as its presidential candidate, would ignore the warning.
Nwajah denied the commission was biased and said it was easier for people to claim they were being victimised than to defend themselves against allegations of corruption.
"We really do not have any political consideration in the work we do," he said.
Allegations of corruption against the vice president are not new. Obasanjo published two reports against him, including one written by the EFCC, in September. He later used those reports to exclude his estranged deputy from the ruling party's presidential primary even though a court said they were invalid.
Abubakar hit back with accusations of corruption against Obasanjo and defected to the Action Congress. The pair have been engaged in a vitriolic war of words and hardly a day goes by without mutual allegations of wrongdoing.
As vice president, Abubakar has immunity from prosecution but the presidency is trying several strategies to force him to step down. Abubakar is resisting these attempts in the courts. Opposition spokesmen said the names on the ruling party's list were second-tier politicians, most of whom were running for lower level jobs such as seats on state houses of assembly.In contrast, they said, opposition parties were being asked to withdraw their most prominent members from the races for the presidency, state governorships or seats in the national senate."EFCC will only be unleashed on political opponents of Mr President so we're not surprised to see that they're going for top opposition figures but only inconsequential people in the ruling party," said Lai Mohammed of the Action Congress.He said his party, which has Vice President Abubakar as its presidential candidate, would ignore the warning.Nwajah denied the commission was biased and said it was easier for people to claim they were being victimised than to defend themselves against allegations of corruption."We really do not have any political consideration in the work we do," he said.Allegations of corruption against the vice president are not new. Obasanjo published two reports against him, including one written by the EFCC, in September. He later used those reports to exclude his estranged deputy from the ruling party's presidential primary even though a court said they were invalid.Abubakar hit back with accusations of corruption against Obasanjo and defected to the Action Congress. The pair have been engaged in a vitriolic war of words and hardly a day goes by without mutual allegations of wrongdoing.As vice president, Abubakar has immunity from prosecution but the presidency is trying several strategies to force him to step down. Abubakar is resisting these attempts in the courts.
Die nigerianische Kommission gegen Wirtschafts- und Finanzkriminalität (EFCC) hat in dieser Woche eine Liste mit 137 Politikern veröffentlicht, denen die Kommission Korruption vorwirft. Mit der Veröffentlichung will die EFCC verhindern, dass korrupte Politiker an den Parlaments-, Präsidenschafts-, und Gouverneurswahlen im April dieses Jahres teilnehmen. Mit den Wahlen im bevölkerungsreichsten Land Afrikas wird zum ersten Mal eine demokratisch legitimierte Neubildung einer zivilen Regierung stattfinden.

Nigerias Präsident Olusegun Obasanjo (Brasília, September 2005, Foto: José Cruz/ABr.)

Der amtierende Vizepräsident Atiku Abubakar zählt neben dem ehemaligen Verteidigungsminister Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso und den Gouverneuren der Bundesstaaten Borno, Jigawa und Enugu zu den bekanntesten Politikern auf der Liste. Atiku Abubakar, der sich nach einem Streit mit Präsident Olusegun Obasanjo von der Regierungspartei PDP losgelöst hat beziehungsweise aus der Partei ausgeschlossen wurde, will als ein Kandidat der Opposition für das Amt des Präsidenten kandidieren. Olusegun Obasanjo darf nach zwei Amtszeiten nicht mehr antreten. Er hatte die EFCC 2003 gegründet, der seitdem von der Opposition vorgeworfen wird, einseitig Oppositionspolitiker zu beschuldigen. Ein Sprecher des schon mehrmals der Korruption beschuldigten Vizepräsidenten wies die Vorwürfe zurück und kündigte an, eventuell rechtlich gegen die EFCC vorzugehen. Als Vizepräsident genießt Atiku Abubakar politische Immunität. Gegen Versuche des Präsidenten, seinen Stellvertreter des Amtes zu entheben, wehrt sich dieser vor Gericht.

Laut EFCC richten sich die Korruptionsanschuldigungen gegen Politiker aller Parteien, an die die Liste zusammen mit einem Anschreiben verschickt wurde. Jedoch finden sich auf der Liste mehr Vertreter der Opposition (82) als aus dem Regierungslager (53). Nach Angaben eines Oppositionssprechers handelt es sich bei den beschuldigten Politikern aus dem Regierungslager überwiegend um Kandidaten für niedere Ämter, während die Opposition dazu aufgefordert werde, ihre bekanntesten Kandidaten zurückzuziehen. Muhammadu Buhari, ehemaliger Staatspräsident und laut BBC News der aussichtsreichste Oppositionskandidat bei der Präsidentschaftswahl, steht nicht auf der Liste. Auf einem Parteitag von Buharis All Nigeria People's Party, der zur Zeit in der nigerianischen Hauptstadt Abuja stattfindet, soll die EFCC-Liste oben auf der Tagesordnung stehen. Die Veröffentlichung der Liste hat für die Betroffenen keine rechtlichen Konsequenzen, sondern erfüllt eine beratende Funktion. Osita Nwajah, ein Sprecher der EFCC, sagte gegenüber BBC News, es sei Sache der Parteien zu entscheiden, wie mit den korruptionsverdächtigen Politikern umzugehen sei. Im Anschreiben an die Parteien empfiehlt die EFCC aber, die Kandidaten zurückzuziehen.