The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations also insisted that all persons seeking to be President must be medically certified and his or her medical test made public.
The CNPP in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu said that “this has become necessary if the country can win the war against corruption and reduce the amount of foreign exchange wasted on medical tourism by sick Presidents.”
“We have noted with dismay how some persons who are yet to legally clear their names of graft allegations as well as those with rumoured terminal ailments have been engaging in clandestine political consultations ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
“If Nigeria’s rating on the global corruption index worries the present administration, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies and stakeholders, including political parties, must do the needful to ensure that only candidates without corruption wrinkles or blemishes or ill-health are allowed to contest the 2023 presidential election.
“Every country with low corruption rating globally consciously did their best to ensure that no known corrupt politician held political offices.
“We strongly urge Nigerian electorates to shun any politician with a baggage of corruption and rumours of ill-health to save the future of our children born and unborn.
“Our experiences in the last few years should help us make better decisions and choices in 2023 general elections.
“We have had to bury a sitting President who was rumoured to be ill during political campaigns in 2007 but it was denied. We now know better.
“Today, our current President has been battling with illness since assumption of office.
“With two experiences, we would want to believe such rumours until a medical report by a reputable health institution in Nigeria is made public by the aspirants or candidates”, the CNPP maintained.
