Former Central Nigerian Governor, Sen. Joshua Dariye has joined the race for the 2019 Senatorial seat of central Plateau State from Kuje prison where he is serving a sentence for fraud.
A Nigerian Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gudu, Abuja in June convicted and sentenced the former Governor to 14 years imprisonment for diverting public funds worth N1.126billion.
However, while still serving his term, the Governor of Plateau State from 1999 to 2007 and current Senator representing Plateau Central on Friday purchased the Senate nomination form for reelection under the All Progressives Congress (APC) party, sources say.
Pictures of the purchased and filled form emerged online on Sunday showing that the convicted Senator was ready to battle for a third term in the Senate while still serving his jail term.
A kinsman of the Senator who published the photos on Facebook, Shadrach Kopmuk wrote, "Just to notify all teaming supporters of our amiable senator Chief Dr Joshua C. Dariye, that the people's senator has purchase and filled the APC nominations and declaration of interest to contest in the forthcoming APC primary election and 2019 general election to represent the good people of plateau central in the ninth Assembly."
Efforts to reach the Senator and his aides through the mobile phone for confirmation were unsuccessful as at publishing time.
Nevertheless, while the Nigerian constitution forbids convicted citizens from contesting elections, Dariye might be on his way to breaking that barrier.
Close sources say the ex Governor has commenced processes for the appeal of his sentence.
"If he hadn't considered an appeal, his seat would have been declared vacant but it can't be because with the appeal, the case is undecided," one of the sources said.
It is not clear when, where and how the appeal would be formalized.
However, Dariye might be the first Nigerian politician to contest elections from prison cell.
If reelected, he would also be the first Plateau Senator to serve three tenures
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