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Tag: ELECTION

  • Appeal Court declares Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa election inconclusive

    Appeal Court declares Faskari/Kankara/Sabuwa election inconclusive

    • Orders rerun in 20 polling units within 30 days

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by Jamilu Mohammed of the PDP against an earlier ruling of the Election Petition Tribunal which had declared the 2023 Election Conducted for the Faskari/ Kankara/Sabuwa Federal Constituency as inconclusive.

    The Nation recalled that the INEC had earlier declared Jamilu Mohammed, the winner of the election but in a ruling by the Election Petition Tribunal which sat in Katsina, declared the election inconclusive and INEC was ordered to conduct reelection in 20 polling units of Faskari and Kankara Local Councils.

    Read Also: Lagos Women’s Run organisers jack up prize money

    The Court of Appeal, however,  in its ruling delivered by the Presiding Judge, Justice Moore Aseimo A. Adumein upheld the position of the Tribunal in declaring the election inconclusive while also surcharging Mr. Jamilu Mohammed  a fine of N300,000:00 to be paid to the APC candidate in the Election, Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki.

    Shehu Dalhatu Tafoki, who previously held the post of Deputy Speaker in the Katsina State House of Assembly, had contested the House of Representatives election on the APC ticket

    The Appeal Court further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct elections in 20 polling units within 30 days.

  • Now that election litigations are over

    Now that election litigations are over

    With the judgment delivered yesterday by the learned judges of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with regard to the appeals filed by the Presidential candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Alhaji Atiku Abubakar GCON and that of the Labor Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi CON, challenging the judgment of the PEPC which was in favor of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR; the matter of litigation has finally come to an end in line with the provisions of section 24(2a) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which stipulates 3 months from the day of the judgment of the PEPC for an appeal to be heard and decided at the Supreme Court. This milestone effectively closes the Presidential election cycle calendar for 2023. The judgment also finally gives complete focus to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue sure-footedly with governance.

     Therefore, I congratulate, his Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for this feat, may your tenure be successful and fruitful for Nigeria and Nigerians. Ameen. 

     Accordingly, there must be an end to litigation. Therefore, going forward, the focus should be on the President to deliver his mandate and deliver good governance within the realm of his manifestos, the promises he made, and the mandate Nigerians gave him by the Grace of Almighty God.

     To the ruling party APC

    For Mr. President, you have your job cut out for you. You have been up and about from day-1, during your inauguration. You built critical momentum, trying to salvage a very bad socio-economic situation that we have been mired into over the past 8 years. The critical decisions you have taken have disrupted both positively and, in some cases, negatively on our polity. As a student of strategy and policy, I know that turning around an ailing economy at this stage of disrepair does not happen with a snap of a finger, nor does it happen with knee-jerk activities. Indeed, some of the key decisions you have taken are so as to achieve quick wins, take full control of the economy, and turn it around. This is also to assure the citizens that you have good intentions for the Country and the political will to turn around the socio-economic situation of the Country for the better, that you will lead in a different better way; to be performance-driven as you promised us, to be a listening President and to abide by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That being said Mr. President, some decisions you have taken have come with serious pains to Nigerians, and understandably so.

     However, may I remind Mr. President that the pillars for success like empathy, situation awareness, and consistent testing of the pulse of Nigerians cannot be over-emphasized as you chart the way forward for Nigeria. With profound respect, I will elaborate on some of the pillars for success in my subsequent episodes. Ours, as citizens, is to support you as a leader to deliver dividends of democracy, which I believe is you intent and which I believe you will deliver. 

     To the opposition political parties 

    During the build to the 4th Republic, as a founding member of the All People’s Party (APP), I was privileged to be selected to be part of a seminar organized by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, as part of the events preparatory return to democracy and the 1999 general elections. Some incumbent Members of Parliament of the United Kingdom at that time gave us some high-level lectures on tenets of democracy and party politics. It was an honor to have attended that seminar with the likes of some of Nigeria’s finest and foremost political leaders like the late Solomon Lar, Chief Bola Ige, Late Senator Mahmud Waziri (the Interim Chairman of the APP), late Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, late Senator Bello Maitama Yusuf, late Chief Olusola Saraki, etc. One of the topics of discussion during that seminar was “How to be an effective opposition party”. A key takeaway for me from that seminar is the value that opposition parties add to democratic ideals, practices, and evolution by keeping the government in power on their toes to ensure good government, providing constructive engagements, while acting as potential alternatives should the ruling party fail to deliver its mandates. I believe that going forward I hope to see that kind of valuable opposition– constructive, mature, and forward-thinking. 

     Furthermore, let us not forget that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in the opposition for 16 years. Mr. President was also in trenches with other vanguards of democracy, fighting for the return of Nigeria to democracy with some of them paying the ultimate price with their lives, some were detained and tortured, while some had to go into exile including President Tinubu. So, to be in opposition is to be bold, resolute, determined, resilient and value-adding.

    Read Also: No apologies for supporting Tinubu in 2023 election – Wike

     To His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar GCON

    Your Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, I respect you, and I appreciate your contributions to the political evolution of Nigeria. You will remain a star in the Nigerian political landscape. You have made immense contributions to the return to democracy and to sustaining the 4th republic by keeping it vibrant. You remain a political colossus, always available to contribute in one way or the other as an active participant. Your excellency, having gone this far I believe time is not for you to hang your political boots, but to re-focus on how you can contribute to continuous nation-building. I urge you to encourage your teeming supporters by reminding them that it is only when we have a peaceful Country that we call Nigeria, that we can have the opportunity to aspire for political office in another election. I look forward to your active participation by making valuable contributions to the journey of our polity. You are a true democrat and I hope that you will stay true to those words to the end.  I know for a fact that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, your very good friend and political ally for many years, totally understands that. I hope that you will speak to your supporters on how effectively opposition will be run, going forward.

     I implore you, Wazirin Adamawa not to falter on this and to continue to contribute to the Nigeria project. For about 30 years you aspired to be the President of Nigeria, but we know that it is only Almighty God that Gives power to whomsoever he wills, and takes it from whomsoever he wills, whenever he wills.  Our political sagacity has never been in doubt, but Waziri as you know in this journey of life we follow the path of destiny that Almighty God charts for us to follow. I wish you a better future ahead as it pleases Almighty Allah, and I will continue to look at you as one of the pillars of democracy in Nigeria beyond party divides.

     To His Excellency Mr. Peter Obi CON

    Your excellency, Mr. Peter Obi – the phenomenon, the disrupter that changed the political landscape in Nigeria in the last 1 year, raising more political awareness and consciousness in a lot of our citizens who hitherto were nonchalant to our political evolution and those that sought alternative platforms for their political aspirations. 

     Whether we like it or not you have done it, within 6 months you changed the political narrative of Nigeria and upscaled the political consciousness of Nigerians. You have added value to our political process and evolution. Your Excellency, I also believe that you still have a role to play in Nigeria’s polity through constructive engagements, leading the people who believe in you. To lead them in a way and manner that we can have a better political process, polity, and a better Nigeria. Your Excellency, your integrity is not in doubt, and your political dexterity has been affirmed in the scheme of Nigerian politics since you entered the presidential race – no doubt. I respect you. I appreciate your valuable contributions over time. 

     One man has to emerge as President at a time. Your excellency, it is only when we have a Nigeria shall we have a Country to aspire to lead. As a true democrat, I urge you to speak to your teeming supporters and let us put our heads together to work for a better Nigeria. There must be an end to a contest and litigation in a democratic system. 

     To fellow Nigerians

    The Nigerian political evolution, just like other advanced democracies is a journey and not a one-time, short dash event. Rome was not built in a day. But it is also important that we take note of the mistakes that were made for corrections to be made, going forward.

    May Almighty God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

  • Election litigations

    Election litigations

    Emerging statistics on the 2023 election-related litigations raise serious concerns on the future of representative democracy in this country. Figures of pre and post-election litigations released by government officials question the capacity and continued relevance of elections in adequately reflecting the collective will of the electorate as expressed at the ballot box. Interestingly, these issues hinge on the philosophical and conceptual role of the electorate as the ultimate sovereign.

    It is not that the trend is entirely new. But the escalating number of contestants relying on the judiciary to determine the rightful winners is a serious threat to the growth and sustenance of the democratic culture in its pristine form. Nothing illustrates the inability of the electoral process to approximate the collective will of the people than the indiscriminate resort to litigations to redress perceived infractions.

    Though the constitution envisages that aggrieved contestants could seek legal remedy by making provisions for it, it is not anticipated that any and every electoral contest will end up at the courts. Something must be off beam in an electoral process that overwhelmingly relinquishes to the courts, the direct rights of the people to choose their leaders.

    That is the sad impression conveyed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC when they said they had more than 1,000 pre-election litigations in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.

    Its director, Legal Drafting and Clearance, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola said the figure emanated from primaries conducted by political parties and substitution of candidate’s names. Additionally, the failure by political parties to adhere to their constitutions and timelines for the conduct of primaries contributed to the bloated figure.

    The data for post elections litigations released by the President of the Court of Appeal PCA, Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem at the commencement of the 2023/2024 legal year is even more revealing. Of a total of 1,280 political offices contested for in the 2023 elections, 1,209 petitions ended up in the courts for adjudication.

    This represents 94.453 per cent of the elective positions contested for during those elections. Only in 71 offices representing 5.547 per cent of the contested positions did the elections go unchallenged at the courts. This would at once suggest either the primaries/elections were fraught with glaring irregularities or the existence of a culture of refusal by politicians to accept defeat or both.

    By contrast, available independent data indicated that only 663 petitions or 44.32 per cent of the positions contested in the 2015 elections ended up in the courts. But one significant thing in that year’s election was that the presidency went unchallenged.

    The 2019 elections produced 766 petitions representing 51.2 per cent while that of 2011 featured 769 or 51.4 per cent of all the offices contested for.  These statistics speak for themselves. But one thing that stands out distinctly is the unprecedented upsurge in election litigations arising from the 2023 elections.

    This should be something to worry as it conveys the inevitable impression of a groundswell of dissatisfaction with the outcome of both the primaries of the political parties and the elections proper. But as worrisome as these outcomes are, they did not come as a big surprise.

    Not with the rancour and acrimony that characterize the primaries of the political parties. Not with all manner of infractions that combine to diminish the credibility and sanctity of our elections. The figures are reflective of the level of progress or lack of it on the democratic chart despite all pretensions.

    It remains a sad commentary that routine internal affairs of the parties as primaries are characteristically marred by scant regard to rules and intractable disputes culminating in large scale litigations.

    Scant regard to internal democracy is the big issue here. An electoral process is already compromised in a situation political parties show strong aversion to the rights of party members to choose their candidates for elective offices.

    Imposition of candidates, substitution of the names of successful candidates with cronies, friends and favoured ones and lack of adherence to rules and the constitutions of the parties combine to diminish the sanctity of party primaries. In the last election, instances exist of individuals who did not contest the primaries, yet their parties gave them a clean bill of health to fly their flags.

    Ironically also, in some of the recorded instance such decisions were challenged in the courts, the candidates that did not go through primaries were still able to win in court rulings that have continued to confound the public. Court rulings like these are at the centre of reservations on the increasing resort to the courts to determine the true representative of the people.

    There is genuine fear that excessive reliance on the judiciary to determine winners of elections abridges popular sovereignty as it takes away the rights of the electorate to choose their candidates. Go to court has become a popular advice for any complaint on electoral matters. There may be nothing wrong with going to court to redress perceived electoral wrong.

    But it is being applied in a very pejorative manner; a franchise for all manner of infractions in electoral matters. The unfortunate undertone is that all in fair in electoral contest including ignoble subversion of the rules. You can go to court but allow us subvert the process first, they seem to be saying.

    Those quick to urge the aggrieved to go to court will not be inclined to do so if they are sure the judiciary will live up to its bidding as impartial arbiter; the last hope of the common man. But they know the Nigerian judiciary is not isolated from the glaring ills that plague the larger society, ills that accentuate the culture of winning elections by fair and foul means.

    Conscious of the obstacles in conclusively proving electoral cases; the huge toll they take in the finances of the litigants and the Nigerian factor, its purveyors aim at procuring from the judiciary the victory that eluded them at the balloting process.

    One agency that should be held squarely for the inability of the ballot process to conclusively throw up undisputable candidates is the electoral umpire, INEC. Even as the inordinate penchant by politicians to win elections through devious means impact adversely on elections outcome, the buck largely stops at the table of INEC

    It should take responsibility for the inability of the ballot process to throw up generally acceptable results. Such prospects were high as the last elections approached, especially with the introduction of sophisticated technology to enhance credibility and general acceptance. That optimism has been dealt a death blow by the facts of these litigations.

    Read Also: INEC to parties: Stop malicious rumour mongering

    A situation more than 94 per cent of all the contested offices in the country ended up in the courts say much on the credibility and acceptance of those elections. It is possible to raise all manner of excuses. We can blame political parties and politicians for circumventing and sabotaging the rules. But INEC should be held squarely for much of the crisis of confidence that assail the ballot process.

    The confidence of the electorate in elections as a true reflection of the collective wishes of the people is increasingly waning. It is not enough for our leaders to parrot and grandstand on the values of democracy when at the slightest chance they invent all forms of strategy to sabotage the rules of the game.

    As a governance framework, democracy is guided by rules; it assumes the character of any other contraption when these guiding principles are observed in their breach. This calls for further electoral reforms such that will tie the hands of INEC by ensuring the ballot process is truly reflective of the collective will of voters. That right cannot be abdicated to the courts without stultifying the sovereignty of the electorate.

    This should instruct moral re-engineering of the psyche of average Nigerian to political cultures of decent electoral conduct. That was perhaps, what Prof. Toyin Falola referred to as moral restructuring at the 2023 Faculty of Arts Lecture of the Lagos State University.  We need a dose of attitudinal change and reforms to correct the noxious impression that politics is the quickest route to illicit wealth. Until then, there may be no end to this madness.

  • 2023 election petition tribunal rulings and their aftermath

    2023 election petition tribunal rulings and their aftermath

    • By Garba Adamu Gwangwangwan

    Sir: The legal system is an essential pillar of any ideal and just society that have desire, willingness to ensure fairness, equity, and justice for all. Nevertheless, there are instances when the outcome of a legal case may not align with the expectations of one party involved in the litigation.

    When a lawsuit goes against us, it can be a disheartening experience. It is natural to feel frustrated, disappointed, and even angry. But it is during these challenging times that our commitment to the principles of justice, respect for the rule of law, and the pursuit of fairness are truly tested.

    Moreover, what can one do when faced with a court ruling that does not favour their side? First and foremost, one must have to essential to respect the legal process. Our judicial is not different with others, where the system is founded on principles that ensure a fair and impartial trial for all parties involved without any reference to other factors. While outcomes may not always be as desired, it is vital to trust in the process itself. This will no doubt uphold the historical antecedent of the process.

    Secondly, parties dissatisfied with a court ruling have the legitimate right to appeal the verdict. The appellate system exists to review decisions and ensure that the law was applied correctly. It offers an opportunity to present new evidence, challenge legal interpretations, and seek a more favourable outcome.

    Read Also: INEC to conduct mock accreditation in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa

    Furthermore, it is essential to engage in constructive dialogue and seek resolution through negotiation or mediation, where applicable. Often, parties can find common ground and reach an agreement outside of the courtroom, avoiding protracted legal battles.

    In some cases, advocacy and awareness-raising efforts can lead to legal reforms or changes in policies and practices. This can be a powerful way to address systemic issues and promote justice not only for one’s case but for the broader community.

    Remember that our legal system is not perfect; it keeps evolving with the unfolding scenario, but it is designed to evolve and adapt. While it may seem challenging in the face of an unfavourable ruling, it is our duty to uphold the principles of justice and fairness. By engaging in the legal process, respecting its outcomes, and pursuing avenues for change, we contribute to a society that continually strives to improve and ensure equal access to justice for all.

    Facing a court ruling that does not favour one’s side can be a daunting experience, but it is essential to approach it with respect for the legal system, an understanding of the available options, and a commitment to seeking justice through appropriate channels. Together, we can work towards a more just and equitable society for everyone.

    •Garba Adamu Gwangwangwan,

    Bauchi.

  • British envoy pledges support for credible election

    British envoy pledges support for credible election

    The British High Commission has vowed to support free, fair and credible elections ahead of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State.

    The Political Secretary, BHC, Abuja, Hamish Tye, made the pledge during a meeting with the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Udengs Eradiri, at his residence in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Tye said his team visited Bayelsa to meet with the governorship candidates, get a better idea of the issues shaping the poll as well as better understanding of the manifestoes of each governorship candidate.

    In his remarks, the LP candidate, Udengs Eradiri, said the visit was to assess the personalities of each candidate and their dispositions towards peace and security.

    He noted:  “Generally, they wanted to know why I wanted to be governor and what I am bringing on the table. It afforded me the opportunity to express the Labour Party agenda for the leadership of Bayelsa State.

    Read Also: Bayelsa poll: British envoy visits LP candidate, urges credible election

    “For me the concerns that I raised and I keep raising are about vote buying which is already ongoing by appointments that are being dished out by the government of the day. They promised 17 members per polling unit, they are paying N100,000 each.

    “As for me, I am creating a lot of jobs for young people. Since I came into this race, the jittery nature of the government, I have seen them coming to the Labour Party to appoint Bayelsans, Labour Party members into government. Most of them have been employed, most of them have been appointed.

    “So I am grateful that I am not governor yet, I am creating Jobs for young people. This is what he should have done months ago, doing it now, it amounts to vote buying, it amounts to inducing gullible Bayelsans thinking that their life wants to start whereas it’s just for three months.

  • The presidential election, the judgment, and the crybabies

    The presidential election, the judgment, and the crybabies

    When it comes to election, election petition, and the court’s judgement, the presidential candidates of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, as well as their supporters are birds of the same feather. They all cried on election day once it was clear from the returns that they had lost. They cried when the winner was declared and given the certificate of return. They cried over the inauguration of the President-elect. They went to court and cried while their case was in court, lying about the judges and even intimidating them. They cried over the judgement. They will cry again over the judgement of the Supreme Court to which they are headed, because the same Court had ruled earlier on key issues in their petitions.

    After reading through the 798-page unanimous judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court, I was surprised at how thin the petitioners’ evidence was and the amount of previous cases cited by the justices in support of their rulings. Equally surprising was the petitioners’ focus on auxiliary matters, such as the nomination and substitution processes over which the PEPC had no jurisdiction; Tinubu’s academic qualifications over which several courts had ruled, and his degree certificate tendered; and a non-conviction based forfeiture decades ago in faraway United States, which, in any case, is non-disqualifying as it was a civil suit and not a criminal case, which the United States government had confirmed never existed against Tinubu in their country; and the matter of whether or not 25 percent votes in the Federal Capital Territory was required for presidential victory. It will be wrong to assume that their lawyers were unaware of the paucity of their evidence or that they were oblivious to the Supreme Court’s previous rulings that 25 percent votes in FCT was NOT required. Few Nigerian lawyers would refuse to take on election petitions, because charges on such petitions are a bounty harvest for them.

    Some illiterate commentators have joined the appellants to cry. They are illiterate, not in the sense that they cannot read and write, but in the sense that they lack basic knowledge of jurisprudence. For example, many of them are still crying over INEC’s failure to upload the results to its viewing portal but failed to ask the appellants why they failed to call any of their thousands of polling agents to speak to the authenticity or otherwise of the result sheets (Forms EC8A), and also to confirm whether or not there were electoral malpractices at the polling units as the appellants alleged in certain states, including those in which they won!

    Read Also:On the presidential election tribunal verdict

    Another illiterate commentator ignored the substance of the judgement and focused on a conspiracy theory woven around coincidental developments: The fellow wondered why the judgement coincided with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 100 days in office and why Tinubu was in faraway India, when he should have been in court! He also saw something fishy in the President’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, expressing the President’s optimism in prevailing in court, as if the appellants never insisted that they won on election day, should have won in the Appeals court, and will win in the Supreme Court.

    Did the appelants have any substantive matters at all? Well, they did have a few, which, in the final analysis, amounted to nothing. For example, they argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission, precisely its Chairman, Professor Mohammed Yakubu, failed to keep the promise of transmitting the results of the election in real time to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal and that some of the results transmitted were unclear. On this issue, various courts, including the Supreme Court, had ruled that electronic transmission of results to the IReV is not stated anywhere in the Electoral Act but was only introduced by INEC in its Regulations and Guidelines as well as its Manual for Election Officials. Therefore, complaints relating to non-compliance to Regulations, Guidelines, and Manuals are not valid complaints for an election petition. In any case, the results of the election are stored in the BVAS machines and in Form EC8A, duly signed by the polling agents. Unlike the IReV, which is only for viewing results, the BVAS and Form EC8A are necessary ingredients for results collation at the Collation Centre, of which the Polling Unit is the first of 5 stages, the others being the Ward, Local Government, State, and Presidential Collation Centre in Abuja.

    Two, they wove a conspiracy theory around the failure to transmit results to IReV to argue that the INEC Chairman used the failure to disguise cheating for the winning candidate. Accordingly, they made generic and wild allegations of various irregularities and malpractices in various states, but without substantial evidence, except, to a limited extent, in Rivers and Benue states. In the words of the Judges, “In other places where irregularities and malpractices were alleged are bereft of the material details of the polling units or places where they were alleged to have taken place, or the figures of votes alleged to have been suppressed, deflated or inflated”. Worse still, none of the evidence provided by the expert witnesses called by the petitioners is linked to the malpractices they alleged. In the final analysis, the allegations were ruled out as wild speculations.

    I have always maintained that the INEC Chairman failed on ethical grounds for not fulfilling his promise to transmit the results to the IReV in real time. However, as various courts, including the Supreme Court, have consistently ruled on the matter, the failure is not justiciable, because the promise emanated neither from the Electoral Act not from the Constitution but only from INEC’s own Regulations and Manuals.

    It is doubtful if Atiku and Obi were unaware of this fact or that some friendly lawyers would not have told them that they had no chance of winning their case. After all, they are both experienced politicians. Nevertheless, it was a convenient ploy for them to pollute public perception about the winning candidate and weep up sentiment among their unknowing followers in order to generate hatred, bitterness, and anger against the winning candidate. The ultimate goal would have been to goad their supporters to stage various protests, which they did, thereby dampening the legitimacy of the election. Their persistence that they won the election must be viewed in this light. Or how else can one interpret the actions of two litigants, each claiming victory but nonetheless agreeing to consolidate their petitions?

    The futility of their case underlies most of the antics we have witnessed since the election, including the recent cry for a re-run, hoping perhaps that they might have a chance to consolidate into one party to strengthen their chances. It was as well that the five judges on the PEPC were unanimous in their verdict in throwing out their consolidated case.

  • Election Tribunal: My opponents lost for challenging God not me – Umeh

    Election Tribunal: My opponents lost for challenging God not me – Umeh

    Senator representing Anambra Central at the National Assembly, Chief Victor Umeh on Friday described his victory at the Election Petition Tribunal as divine, historic, and faultless.

    He said his opponents lost the battle because it was God they challenged, and not him, arguing whoever stood in God’s way would always be crushed.

    The election petition tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State on Friday reaffirmed the election of the Labour Party (LP) candidate.

    Ruling on the petition filed by Dozie Nwankwo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) challenging Umeh on grounds of non-compliance, the tribunal dismissed the petition for lack of merit, stressing it was a party affair to determine its candidate.

    But addressing reporters in reaction to the judgement, Umeh said he never had doubt over his victory at the tribunal, stressing that the judgement had put to rest all forms of distractions.

    He said, “The challenge they put against me is actually against God. God designed everything that played out. Nobody believed it would turn out this way. Some even said I would not get the third position.

    “But I handed everything to God and never doubted for one day. This morning I was singing and thanking God for the victory even before it was read. Because the handwriting was just there.

    “There’s no way they would have defeated God, especially after seeing what God did and still refused to accept it. Instead, they decided to play God.

    “When this judgement was scheduled today, 8th, I knew they have lost, moreso as a great follower of our mother Virgin Mary of Catholic, and today being her birthday. I won’t lose anything on the day 8th. Mother Mary won’t allow that.”

    Read AlsoTribunal affirms Ndume’s election as Senator

    Appreciating his constituency, supporters as well as lawyers for standing by him throughout the process, Umeh called on his opponent to evaluate their stand and reconsider further actions he termed, “flogging a dead horse.”

    “Today, happened to be the big one, APGA and its candidate, one that generated much tension and hype. But I’ve remained calm all through the period. One, I knew I won and didn’t do anything to compromise the process, including rigging.

    “My people, convinced that I’ll represent them better than any other candidate voted overwhelming for me. Looking at the margin, I didn’t see what anyone was going to the tribunal to do.

    “Yet, they went there to claim all sorts of things and made so much noise. Mine is always on due process. I always study and follow the law. But they went to court to stop and disqualify me. Yet I won after all.

    “This victory has put to rest all distractions, the coast is now clear for me to concentrate fully to work for my people because we have enormous work to do for them. So we need the space to confront the challenges facing my people head-on.

    “I return Glory to God first, and my people of my constituency who fought gallantly for me to victory. I also thank my supporters, media team and campaign organisation as well as lawyers and counsels.

    “To my opponents, they should evaluate their stand, self-evaluation and deep reflection. It’s not for me to call them to sheathe their swords, if I do so they would say I’m beginning them not to appeal.”

  • Stakeholders call for vetting of election observers

    Stakeholders call for vetting of election observers

    Civil Society Organisations have called for the strengthening of the vetting processes for election observer groups as well as the training of field observers.

    The civil societies noted that this would ensure that Nigeria’s election integrity was not undermined by observers with partisan interests.

    These were part of recommendations made at the end of a two-day post-election review meeting for CSOs organised by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency.

    Read Also: Tribunal affirms election of Edo LP Rep

    The CSOs urged accredited observer groups to institutionalise transparent communication with their field observers as a panacea to eliminate political and neo-Eugenics influence.

    In a communique signed by the Chairman Communique Drafting Committee, Monday Osasah, the civil society organisations said: “Implement regulations that monitor and limit recruitment of groups that will undermine the integrity of the elections. CSOs must promote fair competition among candidates who apply for observation in their various organisations and do a background check on them.

    “Ensure polling stations are accessible to all election observers, including those with disabilities and elderly citizens.

    “Accredited observer groups must send in reports of their observation timely to the electoral umpire and continue this practice of peer review of the election Observation.

    “Civil Society Organisations involved in election observation, emphasise the importance of continued collaboration between CSOs, election management body, political parties, security, and other stakeholders to uphold the integrity of our democratic processes.

    “Collective efforts aim to foster a stronger democratic culture that respects the will of the people and promotes the values of transparency, inclusivity, and accountability.”

  • Witness presents documents confirming Akpabio’s victory

    A mild played out at the elections petition tribunal in Akwa Ibom State when a witness, Mr. Godwin Afangideh, presented a document confirming that Senator Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial election.

    Lawyer to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Solomon Umoh had given Afangideh a document presented by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to read to the tribunal.

    The document was an exhibit presented by INEC in a petition by Akpabio, challenging the declaration of Christopher Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the Senator for Akwa Ibom North West.

    Afangide, reading from the document given to him by Umoh, said: “My Lord, even from this document, APC scored 61,329 and PDP scored 9,050 in Essien Udim council, and it is recorded here.”

    Umoh had attempted to shout Afangide from reading that part of the document.

    Afangide had earlier tendered results collated from wards in Essien Udim as given to him by the party agents, which clearly showed that Akpabio won with a wide margin.

    Read Also: ‘Those fighting Akpabio will fail’

    The witness expressed surprise at the voters’ register tendered in court, saying it was different from the one used on election day. According to Afangide, the elections in Essien Udim were peaceful, as attested to by security agencies, local and foreign observers.

    Two policemen, Commander of Ikot Ekpene Area Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police Naziru Kankarofi and the Divisional Police Officer of Essien Udim, Samuel Isiek, on subpoena tendered situation reports on the conduct of the National Assembly elections.

    The reports were duly admitted as exhibits despite the initial objections of Umoh, respondents’ lawyer Chief Kanu Agabi and INEC’s lawyer Robert Emukpoeruo. They reserved their objections till final addresses.

    Another Witness, Chris Akpan, who was a ward collation agent, told the tribunal that the results declared by INEC in Uyo did not reflect collated results from the units and wards.

    He was also surprised hearing about violence, saying they were hearing of violence for the first time at the tribunal.

    Akpabio had so far called 14 witnesses, mostly ward agents, who have tendered duly collated results. Results so far tendered showed he had led his opponent with a wide margin before INEC cancelled the results in Uyo.

  • ‘There was vote buying in Akwa Ibom election’

    What really is your complaint about the 2019 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State?

    I ran for governor as a result of the many challenges we have in Nigeria, but particularly in my state; lack of employment, especially for young people, inability of youths to have their voices heard, lack of services to the general populace, especially with regards to education and health care. I made that a core priority of my manifesto. I went into the elections like every other candidate, got the forms and was nominated by party. I did everything like rallies, town halls, I even took some of my town halls out of the country just to get support. A few weeks into the race, a lot of things happened; the normal political intimidation, which I was prepared for. I come from a political family, even though I am not a politician. I could understand. But then it started getting off key. There were people coming to buy off team members of my support team. Others, in the name of stepping down were paid off. I expected that because 17 political parties, some of them major parties like Accord and Labour Party stepped down and endorsed my candidacy, it was very novel in African and Nigerian politics. The regular situation is that major parties like the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) get smaller parties to step down for them, but having a very young party like the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), which is barley one year old, benefit from such an intimidating move.

    One week to the election, it was a known case that four major players were in the governor race in Akwa Ibom State, the APC candidate, Nsima Ekere; the PDP had the incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel; the Young Democratic Party was represented by Ezekiel Nya-Etok and I was the candidate of the ANRP. The election came and went but what happened was very disastrous. We realised that in many of the 2986 polling units in Akwa Ibom State, there was proliferation of vote buying. People were intimidated. Those who would not sell their vote were stopped from voting and some of us that did vote there were so much void votes. We were so discouraged and I started comparing note with Architect Nya-Etok and we realized that the same thing happened. He even had a sadder story to tell. We agreed to hold a press conference to air our grievances. I said I will be going to court. He said he will support me in the process. We agreed to approach the International Criminal Court, as well, because vote buying comes under political repression, which is a crime against humanity.

    Did you prepare your case in time?

    We prepared our case. It is normally 21 days to file from the date of the announcement of result. My lawyer was with the APC lawyer who had gone to submit the petition of the APC governorship candidate at the same time. They met and they talked. The APC submitted, but when we came back to submit, we were told that our petition was late. The Secretary/Registrar of the tribunal said this. I did not go with my lawyer. I could not believe this. He went with the Deputy Chairman of the party. The man insisted that we were late and he could take the petition. He told the man that you are not allowed by law to reject a petition, it is a court that has that power, even if our petition comes in like two months after. It is the court that will determine if our petition is late or not; so, allow it to go in and let the court strike it out. There was a lot of fanfare, he came in with so many policeman dancing around the whole place. When I heard the story, I knew something was wrong. The next day, I followed my lawyer to the tribunal. This time around, I had the press, so they could bear witness. We called the man and it was a recorded conversation. He repeated the same thing that he will not take our petition. Our lawyer said again that he had no right to refuse our petition. He shouted us out. We briefed the press there. The video is on Youtube same day. You can’t backdate a Youtube video. The thing now is where does this guy get his power? He is not the problem. There are forces at the tribunal that are doing all these. What is wrong with that process? I want to get my petition in. As a politician, I know the calculation. The political calculation is that somebody somewhere does not want my petition to go in because of the value I have. That petition can cause a lot of issues. It is easier and cheaper for them to stop it from entering. The worst that can happen is that the man will be sacked. They will say, ‘we have sacked him but we can’t take your petition because it is late.’ I don’t want anybody to be sacked, I want my petition to be taken in. I want Akwa Ibom people and Nigerians to see what happens when you challenge the status quo. The reality is that there are the guys over there and there are ‘us’ the people. When you try to get over there to know what is happening, they stop you by all means.

    We have done so many things. We have done what the law allows us to do. We have written to the President of the Court of Appeal. We have written reminders and even gone there to see her in person in Abuja. I was in her office for hours but could not see her. I was not allowed to. We have written to the National Judiciary Council (NJC). We have written to the Chief Justice of the Nigeria. We have written to the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of the Representatives; so that all arms of government will know what is happening. So far, we have not got any response. When I went to submit the letter to the President of the Court of Appeal, this Mr. Abubakar who is the Registrar broke my phone in the process. I have the evidence and I have the video. The process was videoed so that they know we came to submit the letter. Of course, when he saw the camera, he took my phone and broke it, but he was already caught on camera. This level of impunity is unbelievable. You won’t believe it but it is true and we have evidence. He told us that no one will reply to our letter and we will not be able to do anything as far as Nigeria is concerned. The media people that came with me were so mad. No one has answered our letter, so far. I believe he is right. That is why I am taking my case to Nigerians to listen to the merit of the case and to ask questions. I also believe that the president wants a lot for this country and if this case is established, he should be able to act in our favour. I am appealing to him. I am appealing to the Senate. I am appealing to Nigerians who have the ability to look into the case and act to realise that what is happening to me will probably happen to their children. This is not a Nigerian case and not an Akwa Ibom case.

    How do you know you are not a threat when your score was not near the winner?

    It is because of the data they realise I have collected. When I asked my agents to go in for the election, 2986 polling agents, I told to concentrate on collecting data. I told them if anybody fights you don’t fight anybody concentrate on collecting data. We have thousands of people with so much evidence. We have people that are in hospitals who were shot. We have people who were cut with machete. The interesting thing about these people is that they are not actually my supporters or from my party. Most of them are from the APC or the PDP who were brought to the hospital by their parties. The PDP made sure that their people who were injured or had problems did not report to the police so that they won’t make the whole thing look like there were problems. They told them the party will take care of the hospital bills. After the ‘show’ these guys went back and they tell them the election is over, what are you looking for? They then find a way to come to me with their data. A lot of them are aggrieved people. Everyone knows I have this information. I have enough data to prove that the process was not free and fair. It is not really about what I scored. It is that the process did not allow us to compete like every other person. That itself can annul the election. That data goes beyond how much I scored because when you go to the score, if I was allowed to compete and get my vote and votes weren’t bought then you would have gone to the scores. This is where interest now comes in to say, ‘look we don’t want this guy’s evidence to go in to the tribunal to prove what he can so that he will not annul the election.’ I believe there are interests that are trying to stop this, probably not one person or two persons. The level of impunity at which this is done, or disregard to law is so brazen. There is something behind it. It is this act that is making me very concerned about our democratic processes and what should be done to stop this level of disregard to the law.

    If your concern is just to show that the process was flawed, it means you don’t care if you benefit from it at the end of the day…

    I don’t care whether I become governor. I believe I have service to provide to my people. If my people say we don’t want you, that is fine, but the process has to be free and fair to pick who is wanted. Not that the person with the highest amount of money wins. Mind you, next year, we have councillorship and chairmanship election. The issue is where does the vote buying stop? When you start buying councilors and chairman, it means the people have no voice. I am saying let’s do this thing again and let the process be free and fair. If the governor wins again, I will congratulate him and even tell him, ‘Oga let’s work together to grow the state.’ The ultimate concern is to grow the state. If the process is flawed, then there is a very critical problem with the system. I am not very concerned about how it is going to end. I am concerned about the process.

    How do you rate the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police in the election?

    That is the reason I am asking for a rerun. I believe the police did not have enough resources in the last election. In every polling unit, we had one police man against thousands of people. The guys couldn’t do anything. In a unit where they had a little bit of fracas, the police couldn’t do anything. If we have a rerun, more policemen will be available. With the INEC, the sophistication of the vote buying process was beyond INEC. Sometimes the monies were paid in different places. INEC will not come to your house or to the football field. Of course, in many places, votes were bought and sold in the open. In other places, there were destruction of polling units and voting materials. We had places were voting did not take place at all. In majority of the areas where vote buying took place, it was so sophisticated and when you look at the pictures and the videos that we have, you will see some of them. In Oron, there was a place that a commissioner had a gig overnight. They ate and drank until the day of the election and they moved the people right from that place to the polling unit. There were different paying processes. People going to vote were told when you thumbprint hold your ballot paper up across your chest so that the agent can see who you voted for. Which is what I wanted to show at the tribunal. I have loads of data.

    In some instances, the voters were given tickets with numbers so that when you vote, you can then go to a primary school to get money. They had so many ways. If these guys use all these scientific methods for progress, we will not be struggling with backwardness. We need to stop this thing before they institutionalize the process. The corruption they are bringing into this system is the corruption of the mind of the people. People feel that there’s nothing wrong with vote buying. In my polling unit, almost everyone is my cousin. They are related to me. These people come to me to say, ‘Oga how much you get? PDP put down millions of Naira here o and APC did as much. They don’t understand how wrong it is. When everyone has agreed to do something. They accept that it is the right thing. When you tell them what the government is doing is wrong, they feel that because they are part of the process, you are saying they are wrong. They are angry with you.