Politics
Election Petitions And The Withdrawal Syndrome
The Election Petition Tribunal in Rivers State received a total of 40 Election Petitions from aggrieved parties and defeated candidates following the outcome of the April general elections in the country.
A break down of the Election Petitions showed that the Governorship Election Tribunal headed by Hon. Justice Amina Wambai, received a total of four election petitions from the candidates of All Grand Progressive Alliance (AGPA), Sir Celestine Omehia; Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Dr. Abiye Sekibo; Action Alliance (AA), Chief Aleruchi Williams; and African Political System (APS), Chief Felix Amadi, all of them challenging the declaration of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the Governorship poll in the state.
The National/State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal received a total of 36 Petitions following the outcome of the April 9th and 26th Elections respectively in the state.
However, of these number, the National Assembly Election had 14 election Petitions challenging various candidates declared winners, while the State Assembly had 22 Election Petitions challenging the declared Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Due to the high numbers of the National/State Assembly Election Petitions in the state, the President, Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami set up two National State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals.
The reason was to enable the tribunals perform effectively and achieve maximum result within the time limit of 180 days to deliver judgement in accordance with the relevant provisions under the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended, and the Practice Directions Notice 2011.
But to the dismay of members of the Election Petition Tribunal, some aggrieved political parties and candidates had withdrawn their petitions filed before the tribunals. For instance, the petition No. EPT/GOV/PH/2/2011, filed by Golden Tamuno (Esq) for Dr. Abiye Sekibo and the ACN in the state challenging the declaration of Governor Amaechi of the ruling PDP as the winner of the April Governorship poll in the state was rather dismissed by the Tribunal, instead of the withdrawal as sought by the petitioner, Dr. Abiye Sekibo and the ACN.
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Chairman, Hon. Justice Amina Wambai, who read the ruling, dismissed the petition as well as the motion notice seeking the withdrawal of the petitioner’s petition.
Hon. Justice Wambai said: “the Petitioner failed to apply for the pre-hearing notice within the stipulated period of 7 days under the first schedule Form TF 008 Electoral Act 2010 as amended and, therefore, in the eye of the law, the petitioner was deemed to have abandoned his petition filed before this tribunal”.
Dr, Abiye Sekibo on the contrary claimed that his petition against the declaration of Governor Amaechi as the winner of the April poll was withdrawn on personal ground and not dismissed by the Election Petition Tribunal.
Sekibo was quoted to have said that his petition at the Election Petition Tribunal was withdrawn on personal ground the reality of ACN frustration in the hands of the Electoral Umpire the INEC.
Also withdrawn was Petition No. EPT/NASE/PH/3/2011 filed by Ayo Akan, Counsel to Chief Dr. Nomate Kpea, Senatorial candidate in the National Assembly election under the umbrella of the ACN challenging Senator Magnus Abe of the Peoples PDP winner of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
Dr. Kpea said shortly after filing his motion on notice for the withdrawal of his Petition that “ I took the decision to withdraw my petition for the sake of unity in Ogoniland”.
Kpea further said: I seek to withdraw my petition against the election of Senator Magnus Abe for the sake of development of Ogoniland and for us collectively to tackle the menace of poverty and unemployment among our people.
The ACN Senatorial candidate rather assured the people of his constituency to work selflessly and cooperatively with Senator Magnus Abe to achieve sustainable development and economic empowerment for the people in the District.
Similarly, Chief Shadrack Akolokwu, the ACN Senatorial Candidate for Rivers West Senatorial District filed Motion on Notice for the withdrawal of his petition against the Election of Senator Wilson Ake of the PDP.
In his affidavit for discontinuance of the Petition, Chief Shadrack Akolokwu stated “personal reasons for the withdrawal of his petition”.
Also in the House of Representatives, election Opuada Inko-Tariah, candidate of the ACN withdrew his petition. He had earlier challenged the election of Dr. Dawari George, the declared winner of Asari Toru/Akuku-Toru Federal Constituency.
It was same for Pastor (Mrs) Nancy Nwankwo, candidate of the ACN for the Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo Federal Constituency in the April Polls, who also challenged the declaration of Chief Barry Mpigi of the PDP as the winner of the April poll Tai/Eleme Oyigbo Federal Constituency.
Her petition before the Tribunal was also withdrawn for what she claimed was based on her “personal conviction to discontine the case challenging the Electoral victory of Chief Mpigi”.
In the Federal House of Representative Election Petition case No. EPT/NAHR/PH/7/2011 filed by Chief Ambrose Nwuzi, candidate of ACN against the election of Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke of the PDP was withdrawn on personal ground. Chief Emma Nwanyanwu had prevailed on him to withdraw the petition against the electoral victory of Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke in the interest of unity of Etche/Omuma people.
Chief Emma Nwanyanwu said : “Chief Ambrose Nwuzi and Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke are illustrious sons of Etche Ethnic Nationality with common vision and passion for service for their people. Therefore, we, Elders and stakeholders, resolved that two of them should settle out of court.
Reacting to the syndrome of withdrawal of Petitions by various aggrieved political parties and their candidates, Mr. Lebari John, Lecturer at the State University of Education, said: “the withdrawal of some of the petitions by the petitioners are good for the political development of the state”.
He further said: “it is good for the opposition to critise where necessary and support the State Governor for the progress and development of the state”.
A constitutional lawyer, Mr. Frank Igodo said: “The withdrawals will greatly reduce the workload of the Election Petition Tribunal, and it will enable the tribunal to deliver and exhaust the load of petitions before it within the 180 days assigned to them under the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended.
Philip Wuwu Okparaji
The Tide source reports that Prof. Akinoso was elected alongside 38 other executive members of the party at the congress held on Saturday.
Other executive members are Dr Abiola Olaonipekun, who emerged as Secretary, Alhaja Latifah Latifu, Women Leader and Mr A. Adeleke, elected as Youth Leader.
It was learnt that the congress, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke Ado in Ibadan, was attended by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Police, other security agencies and prominent members of the party.
The election was supervised by electoral committee members, among whom were Prince Diran Odeyemi, who served as Chairman, Hon. Awoniyi Tolulope, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi, Queen Stepheine Oyechere, Alhaji Yusuf Abidakun, Mr Olumide Aguda and Dr Phillips Adeniyi, who served as Secretary.
Prof. Akinoso, in his inaugural address, urged members of the party to set aside intra-party differences.
He advised them to concentrate their resources on the promotion of the party, saying, “The primary responsibilities of party executive members are to coordinate party activities, ensure harmony among members, and ensure party victory during general elections.
“Our immediate assignments are to key into INEC released 2027 general election time-tables. As directed by the National Caretaker Committee of PDP, our party e-membership registration starts next week. We must be fully involved and do a membership drive.
“A political party is only relevant and benefits its members if it wins the election. This is our goal. We should set aside intra-party differences; concentrate our resources towards the promotion of the party. We will make necessary consultations and dialogue to actualise this”.
President Tinubu disclosed this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday.
He also disclosed that his administration had opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.
“There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.
“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.
“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.
“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money, but how they use it is in your hands. So, don’t bombard me alone,” President Tinubu said.
The ruling party said the ADC had turned criticism of the APC-led administration into its operating manifesto instead of presenting concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic challenges.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr Felix Morka, the party dismissed the ADC’s interpretation of a report presented at a policy dialogue organised by Agora Policy which suggested that the country’s poverty rate had risen from 49 per cent to 63 per cent.
Mr Morka said the opposition party’s reaction to the report as a “damning verdict” on the government’s economic policies reflected either ignorance of economic realities or deliberate political mischief.
“The African Democratic Congress’ attempt to spin a recent report presented at the Agora Policy dialogue indicating a rise of poverty rate of 63 per cent from 49 per cent as a damning verdict on this administration’s economic policies speaks either to its shocking ignorance of economic policy or its wilful blindness to the justification for, and transformative impacts of, ongoing economic reforms,” he said.
The APC spokesman noted that the report itself recognised the necessity of reforms aimed at correcting long-standing structural distortions in the economy.
According to him, the ADC had failed to present any credible alternative policy direction for Nigerians.
“Clearly, the ADC does not recognise itself as a political party. The ADC has not articulated a single alternative policy position or prescription of benefit to Nigerians. Condemning the APC and its policies has become its operating manifesto,” Mr Morka said.
He explained that major economic decisions taken by President Bola Tinubu, including the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of multiple foreign exchange windows, were necessary steps to rescue the country’s economy from collapse.
Mr Morka said the subsidy regime had for years placed a heavy burden on public finances, consuming trillions of naira annually while encouraging corruption, fuel smuggling and inefficiencies in the system.
He added that the reforms had helped redirect national resources to key sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The APC spokesman acknowledged that economic reforms often come with short-term hardship but stressed that the measures were essential to build a stronger and more resilient economy.
“Economic reform is never cost-free anywhere in the world. The transient hardship experienced by Nigerians was an inevitable cost of reforms meant to build and guarantee a better future for all Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Morka maintained that the country’s economic outlook was already improving, citing recent growth figures and stronger external reserves.
“Our economy has rebounded and is expanding steadily. The country’s Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.4 per cent last year and is projected to expand by 5.5 per cent this fiscal year, with foreign reserves now exceeding $50 billion,” he stated.
He also pointed to government initiatives designed to cushion the effects of economic adjustments on citizens, including cash transfer programmes, student loan schemes and the rollout of compressed natural gas (CNG) initiatives to reduce transportation costs.
Mr Morka reaffirmed that the APC-led administration would remain focused on rebuilding the economy and expanding social investments to support vulnerable Nigerians.