Presidential candidate Dr Oby Ezekwesili promised to protect LGBTI people’s ‘right to live’, according to reports.

The candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) confirmed she will support LGBTI people in a speech at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in the UK.

According to The Whistler, LGBTI activist Bisi Alimi asked whether Ezekwesili will discriminate against the community due to her Christian faith. She is married to Pastor Nedu Ezekwesili of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

However, the former Vice President of of the World Bank Africa said everyone will be treated equally, reports the publication.

She said: ‘Bisi spoke about the LGBT, I absolutely believe in the fact that everyone is entitled to equal opportunity. So at the realm of public policy, it wouldn’t matter to me what your belief is, what you chose to believe.

‘It is basically the fact that equality of opportunity will define my time in government, I believe that equality of opportunity offers everyone the right to live.

‘It offers everyone the right to aspire, that will definitely be the way that I run the government that I shall lead.’

Homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria. Those caught engaging in same-sex activities face up to 14 years in prison. In the 12 northern states that practice Sharia law, the punishment is being stoned to death.

Other presidential candidates

This is a softening of positions from other presidential candidates.

Earlier in 2018, Donald Duke of the Social Democratic Party allegedly said he ‘would not criminalize’ gay people, before affirming that it is a crime.

In an Instagram post he wrote: ‘Homosexuality is a crime in Nigeria and ought to remain so.’

He added: ‘I would not go seeking homosexuals for prosecution as this is liable to abuses and as such would rather not delve into sexuality of an individual.

‘For the avoidance of doubt, our law on homosexuality stands in fact and in my moral rectitude.’

Meanwhile., Eunice Atuejide, of the National Interest Party, says homosexuality ‘may be immoral’ but is ‘not a crime’.

The Nigerian general election will be held on 16 February 2019.

More from Gay Star News: