Politics
2015 Polls: Lawyers, Others Hail Release Of Time Table
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in a handshake with members of Save Rivers Movement at a rally organised by the body in Bori, headquarters of Khana LGA. last Saturday. Photo: Samson Egberi
Some prominent lawyers
in Lagos last Saturday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its timely release of the timetable for the 2015 general elections.
The lawyers, in separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos, called on the populace to support INEC towards making the election a success.
INEC in a statement issued on Friday, fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 14, 2015.
It also fixed state assembly and governorship elections for February 28, 2015.
The Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, said the timetable was in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“The Electoral Act has made provisions for the resolution of all election matters within 90 days.
“So, I think INEC is thinking and planning ahead towards ensuring that these matters are resolved before the inauguration of eventual winners,” he said.
A human rights activist and lawyer, Mr Fred Agbaje, urged INEC to put all logistics in place towards the realisation of free and fair polls.
Agbaje also advised politicians to abide by the relevant electoral laws and put an end to unguarded utterances capable of heating up the polity.
“The utterances by some of our politicians have clearly showed that they are not ready to play by the rules,” he said.
Another lawyer, Mr Wale Ogunade, said that it was the responsibility of every Nigerian to cooperate with INEC to ensure that it succeeded in delivering on its mandates.
“The timetable was issued by INEC based on its ability to conduct the elections. All stakeholders, including the politicians, should work with it to make a success of the project,” he said.
Some other stakeholders also commented on the release of the time table.
National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odunmakin, a sociopolitical organisation, said that the timing of the elections gave enough time to have the national conference, complete it and subject it to a referendum.
He said it was important that several issues which caused tension in the country should be resolved by the national conference before the elections.
A former Electoral Commissioner of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Mr Mohammed Oyefeso, said the timing would reduce tension in some states.
“I want to commend INEC for putting us on notice this time around and for setting the tone.
“This will reduce the tension in some states and everybody will want to play and abide by the rules of the game,” Oyefeso said.
The Chairman, National Coalition of Political Parties (NACOPP), Mr Damian Ogonna, said releasing the timetable on time would allow political parties adequate time to prepare.
“Releasing it on time is good as it will allow parties to work ahead of time.
“But the commission should not fail to recognise political parties that have been freed by the ruling of the Federal High Court,” Ogbonna said.
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.