Politics
…As CLO Accuses INEC Of Complicity
Civil Liberty Organisation
has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of causing the delay in concluding the rerun elections in Rivers State, describing it as infringement of the political rights of the people of Rivers state .
In a statement issued by the Chairman CLO South South Karl Chinedu Uchegbu, Zonal Director South South Styvn Obodoekwe,and Livingstone Wechie,
Deputy Director, Relations/Communications, CLO South South, said it is almost eight months or more since the Appeal Court on Election petitions in Abuja in 2015, ordered a rerun election in the national and state legislative seats in Rivers state but INEC has failed to complete the rerun ever since, basing its excuses on insecurity and electoral violence.
The group noted that the issue of insecurity is not peculiar to Rivers state as INEC will want to paint it to the world, adding that INEC conducted elections in the north east of Nigeria that is grappling with Boko Haram and even recorded higher voter turnout as it made Nigerians to believe as indicated in its reports, among other areas in the country where the environment is practically volatile.
According to the statement, ” we wish to remind INEC that voting is a fundamental rights of citizens in exercise of their political and civil rights as recognized by both local and international legal instruments and INEC is bound to necessarily recognise same accordingly. However, INEC by its actions is denying Rivers people this right; citing insecurity is not at all tenable. It paints a picture pointing that it may have connived with a certain political party to stage-manage the various attacks particularly in the Ogoni areas of Rivers state so as to justify its increasingly innovative excuses on why it will not conduct a rerun.
“The running cry of INEC that until security can be guaranteed it cannot conduct or conclude the rerun elections is very curious giving the impression it carries.
“This posture by INEC is in the face of the reported bombing of its office in KHANA L.G.A in Rivers state as it hurriedly latched into the obviously preplanned unfurtunate incident to justify the common and uniform cries of a certain political interest to quickly suspend the rerun election indefinitely.
“It is most regrettable therefore that INEC has delightedly denied the people of Rivers state their rightful representation in the National and State Assemblies respectively, particularly in the Nigeria Senate where all of the three statutory Senators from the state are not represented.”
The questions to ask are: whether Rivers state is no longer part of Nigeria and whether INEC is now vested with such omnipotence to overrule the mandate, will and political aspirations of eligible voters in Rivers state arbitrarily without any legal caution.”
The group further explained that the unwillingness of INEC to complete the rerun in Rivers state is the reason behind the heightened political tension and not the other way. INEC if it is indeed sincere can work out a strong security strategy with the relevant security outfits to manage the elections without being overwhelmed because the security agencies themselves have sufficient intelligence to handle every security breach approximately.
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.