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2023 polls fit for the gutters – NLC, CSOs *Say judiciary must save Nigerian democracy

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Civil Society Organisation and the organised labour in Nigeria, practically threw the 2023 general elections into the gutters on Sunday with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), throwing the gauntlet to the judiciary to save the situation or have its name completely smeared forever.

With both agreeing that the election, particularly that of February 25 which produced Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria after his declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner, the NLC, threatened to set up what it called a hall of shame for judges that would compromise their responsibilities in the dispensation of justice because of pecuniary benefits.

Speaking in a press briefing by the Labour Civil Society Front, (LCSF), in Abuja, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero said that the judiciary in the country was seriously down, a situation that had led to the mantra “go to court” by corrupt people that stole the mandate of the people in the just concluded election.

Ajaero, who alleged that the judiciary had set many states and institutions on fire, citing an example with Imo where he said that it is still a mystery where someone that was not a candidate of a party was declared a governor by the Supreme Court, said: “The judiciary is clearly down. The judiciary has set so many states and institutions on fire. The judiciary has set Imo state on fire. Up till now, people are asking how can a person who is not a candidate of his party be declared governor? The judiciary has so many questions to answer.

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”If they failed to answer those questions within a short time we would create a hall of shame for those judges that come up with such judgments and that will happen soon. There is need for the NBA, for all arms in the judiciary, to the bar benches, and all to speak out on what is happening in the judiciary. We doubt whether judiciary is still the last hope of the common man.

“Now the destiny of the country hangs. It is either they fulfil it or they betray it once again. There is a lot, the acronym go to the court these days is now shameful. When people tell you to go to court, they are telling you that’s the end of the matter.

“Somebody will steal your yam and say go to the court. On what basis are those statements being used? That’s the level of ridicule that the judiciary has been brought to and as Nigerians we all need to come out to rescue the judiciary, or else there’ll be no need to continue to go to court.

“The NLC identifies with this body, not necessarily on political basis but in order to rescue this country. We can see the youths struggling these days to see whether they can make an impact. You can see that there is a gulf between those governing end the youths, there is no connection anywhere. What the guys see as a module of governance, some of it they learnt from schools, and not what are being practiced,” it said.

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In a statement signed by Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Comrade Shehu Sani, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo and Salisu Mohammed on behalf of the Labour Civil Society Front, titled: In the defence of Nigeria’s democracy and in solidarity with the Nigerian workers, the group said though the 2023 general elections had taken place its ripples and aftermath for promising democracy had been worrisome and frightening.

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The text read by Ambassador Toyo, said: “Some of us, who are architects of Nigeria’s current democratic experience, being human rights leaders, political rights advocates, progressives, civil society and labour movement activists that fought the military for the restoration of democratic governance in Nigeria, have watched with utter astonishment, how the processes and procedures meant to consolidate our 24 years of democratic wins have been greatly eroded through the 2023 general elections.

“We entered this season of elections with a strong consensus by Nigerians that the New Electoral Act 2022 will improve the level of electoral accountability and that the huge financial investment of about N355 billion in electoral processes (involving the deployment of Bi-Modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) technology), will make a marked difference to the elections. Sadly, the 2023 general elections became an anti-climax, dashing the hopes of Nigerians for credible elections and denying citizens the emergence of qualitative political leadership across Nigeria.

“Clearly, INEC in cahoots with some members of our political class have driven a death nail into the democratic experience of most Nigerians thus leaving the electorate despondent to resort to self-help in their effort to salvage whatever is left of their vibrant political engagement with the 2023 elections.  Unfortunately, majority of Nigerians, especially the youths who fought with patriotism to reset their country through the ballot box, are now wondering if elections have not become the tool for legitimising the corrupt takeover of Nigeria.

“This dark cloud of angst arising from a terribly mismanaged 2023 General Elections has jolted the confidence and hope of many Nigerians, thus propelling us as Citizens of Conscience to take the bold step of beginning to resist and mitigate the intended and unintended crisis looming over our dear country.

“We recall the hard-earned democratic reputation of many seated here today, who organized in the early 1990s through actions of coalitions of citizens’ groups, labour and human rights organizations for an end to military dictatorship. Their voices held sway as they resorted to citizens’ actions, demonstrations, strikes, global solidarity action and other civil resistance measures to compel the regimes of Presidents Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha to concede to the wishes of the citizens.

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“From all indications, the 2023 General Elections has become a rude reminder of how quickly things can degenerate and that the emergence of what was then termed ‘gun powered democracy’, through which incumbent military regimes manipulated political processes to transmutate themselves into ‘elected democratic’ governments, has given way to corrupt money powered imposed rulership, using the trajectory of democratic processes and elections to capture and perpetuate themselves in power.

“In what we see as a democratic redemptive mission,  We the Vanguards of concerned citizens and democrats; with a front seat in the history of democratic transitions in Nigeria, are committed to ensuring that political leadership is not foisted on the country at the expense of the democratic gains made so far.

“As a first step, we have decided to signify our public displeasure at INEC and those behind the political coup against the well-laid out and established electoral norms and standards contained in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022. Therefore, we condemn the outright manipulation of the electoral process and abdication of responsibility by INEC as it has not only destroyed trust in the democratic process, but has rewarded wrongdoing, making it possible for persons of stupendous wealth, who lack legitimacy, to become the real beneficiaries of our electoral process.”

Describing Nigeria a decomposing democracy, the group said, “Prior to the 2023 general elections, INEC showed early signs of inconsistency by shifting electoral deadlines, which favoured the ruling party, adding: “INEC also discouraged new voters from registering through an abrupt decision to halt the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR). And as if that was not enough, INEC deployed technical personnel manning sensitive positions to non-technical roles, thereby interrupting the seamless and effective deployment of technology in the elections.

“As a decoy, INEC initially displayed a high level of preparedness during off season elections in Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun governorship elections. INEC’s use of technology in those elections gave Nigerians reason to believe that technology will apply in the subsequent 2023 General Elections thereby causing Nigerians to be caught off- guard.

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“Though not unexpected, INEC and Security agencies failed to act when in some areas, such as Lagos, attacks on non-indigenous groups wanting to vote were unleashed by the ruling party. Similarly, the use of hate speeches and other criminal behaviours were treated with levity, thereby incentivizing the subsequent use of electoral violence, brigandage and outright impunity during the 2023 elections.

“To give one graphic example, the LP Senatorial Candidate for Enugu East was brutally attacked, set ablaze and murdered a few days to the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly election with little or no consequences.

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“On 25th February as well as 18th March 2023, INEC operations were poorly carried out (see reports of various observer groups) as deployment of election materials to polling units witnessed deliberate lapses, while security personnel could not contain the criminal activities of well-armed thugs that took over some strategic polling units in violation of the Electoral Act 2022 and the 2023 Election Guidelines.

“These weaknesses were further worsened by huge and open enticement of voters with cash and gifts by political party operatives in the full glare of security operatives. Additionally,  the speed with which INEC and its officials were willing to disregard the provisions of Sections of the electoral act 2022 and their own electoral Guidelines to hurriedly announce election results, not minding the fact that the processes were severely undermined, gave grounds for deep concerns. For instance, Sec 60(5), and 149 of 2022 Electoral Act and Clause 38 of INEC 2022 Guidelines and Regulations for Conduct of the 2023 General Elections were ignored and manual accreditation of voters for both the presidential and governorship elections were endorsed thus opening the floodgate for the destruction of the sanctity and credibility of the 2023 elections.

“The most phenomenal failure by INEC was her refusal to upload the presidential election results from BVAS unto IREV at real time as stipulated by the Electoral Act 2022, as contained in INEC Guidelines for the 2023 elections as repeatedly espoused by the INEC Chairman. This happened even as the NASS elections conducted at the same time and on the same day were seamlessly uploaded, while INEC was unable to upload results of the Presidential elections as required by the law. These blatant inconsistencies by INEC in applying different electoral standards in conducting same day elections for Presidential and National Assembly elections point to a deliberate manipulation of NEC’s well publicised Guidelines, which INEC mindlessly replaced, opting for administrative arbitrariness.

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“In summary, Nigeria suffered a monumental reversal in her electoral and democratic gains through the criminal mismanagement of the electoral process by the INEC and security agencies, who both compromised their duties and donated their power of election refereeing and law enforcement to unscrupulous politicians bent on imposing their self will over and above that of the people.

“A brazen and most shameful example was seen in Adamawa, where INEC emboldened by its many earlier infractions, decided to go for broke, by declaring Senator Binani as winner of an unconcluded governorship election.”

 

 

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BREAKING: Anjarwalla, fleeing Binance boss, sues FG

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Justice Inyang Ekwo, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, will on April 8, begin hearing in the case filed by detained Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, and Nadeem Anjarwalla, Executive Manager, West African Region, over their detention by the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Nuhu Ribadu, and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged violation of his fundamental rights.

The suit filed by Olujoke Aliyu, from Aluko and Oyebode Law Firm, Gambaryan, through an originating motion dated and filed March 18, is however now concentrating on the latter, since the escape of Anjarwalla from custody, as legal representation on his behalf has now been withdrawn.

Aliyu, in filing the matter, sought five reliefs on behalf of Gambaryan, while Anjarwalla, who allegedly escaped on Friday, March 22, reportedly filed a separate case also bothering on enforcement of rights.

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Marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/356/24 and FHC/ABJ/CS/355/24, the suits both against the ONSA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as first and second respondents, with Gambaryan, a US citizen overseeing financial crime compliance at the crypto exchange platform, specifically seeking a declaration that his detention and seizure of his international travel passport, contravened Section 35 (1) and (4) of 1999 Constitution (As Amended).

Arguing that the act amounted to a violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty as guaranteed by the constitution, he also sought an order directing the authorities to release him from their custody and return his international travel passport with immediate effect.

Gambaryan, who also prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the ONSA and EFCC as well as their agents from further detaining him in relation to any investigation into or demands from Binance, also demanded a public apology to him, and bearing the cost of the legal action on a full indemnity basis.

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He argued in his statement supporting the claim that as an American citizen he only visited Nigeria on February 26, along with Anjarwalla, as a representative of Binance, to honour the invitation of the ONSA and EFCC to discuss issues relating to Binance in Nigeria.

Giving 11-ground argument why his application should be granted, he said that he and Anjarwalla, dutifully attended the meeting, but were detained thereafter and had since remained in detention since then.

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Maintaining that he did not commit any offence during the meeting, neither was he informed in writing of any offence he personally committed in Nigeria at any other time, he added: “The only reason for my detention is because the government is requesting information from Binance and making demands on the company. I am not a member of the Board of Directors of Binance.

T.J. Krukrubo (SAN), who initially appeared for both petitioners, while reminding the court that though the respondents were served two days ago, they were not represented in court, however, drew the attention of the court to the notice of withdrawal of legal representation for Anjarwalla filed on March 26, though he did not give details of why they were withdrawing their legal representation.

Ekwo, while acknowledging that such move meant that the applicant had no legal representation, but must be accorded, one, said he had to adjourn to enable him seek legal representation and for the respondents to be given an opportunity to come to court.

He therefore announced April 8 for further mention and to enable both the ONSA and EFCC, to file their response to the application in the case of Gambaryan.

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We must cure destructive malaise of defections in political parties – Ganduje

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Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Thursday, attributed what he termed incessant and reckless defection of politicians from one political party to another in Nigeria, to lack of ideology, a malaise, which he said must be cured to create an enduring democratic ethos.

Ganduje, former Governor of Kano, who bemoaned the parlous situation, insisted that political parties must now begin to build enduring ideologies and party identities to ensure stability.

The party boss, who spoke when he inaugurated the party’s zonal coordinators across the country, adding that the trend must change for the better, indicated that the zonal coordinators would be in charge of the six geo-political zones of the country.

The event saw the former governor naming Hope Uzodimma of Imo as the coordinator for the South-East, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara as that of the North-Central, while Mai Mala Buni would coordinate the North-East.

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Others, in the arrangement which is supposed to keep the party busy at all times, and maintain constant links with the national leadership, were Uba Sani of Kaduna state for the North-West, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will serve as the South-West and Bassey Otu of Cross River for the South-South coordinator.

Giving the governors the charge, he said: “They should liaise with the party to commence the immediate process of genuine reconciliation of aggrieved members in the geo-political zone. mobilise governor’s of the zones to effectively and physically participate in the party’s activities in the zone, consult with governor’s and resolve issues that will further enhance its progress and unity.

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“They are to also assist the party on resource mobilisation in serving the party and participate in any other activity that may be assigned by the party. We want to change the narrative, we want our political party to be active throughout the year, therefore, all our offices must be physically operational, all our offices must be functionally operational. Right from the local government to state level, there must be activities throughout, but this cannot happen by chance.”

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BREAKING: At last, Enugu LP lawmakers defect to PDP, meet Mbah

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After weeks of speculations, six members of the Enugu State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) finally announced their defection to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, on Thursday, in what indicates a likely bandwagon, as a result of the crisis rocking one Nigeria’s main opposition parties.

The LP, which emerged third in reckoning after the 2023 general elections, has been embroiled in internecine crisis, with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), its parent body, insisting on the ouster of Julius Abure, as the National Chairman.

Incidentally, Abure, was re-elected at the party convention called to choose new leaders expected to take to the next stage after putting up a stellar performance during the last election, a development, which itself, had also sunk into controversy, as both the NLC and the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), dismissed it as a sham and insisted on taking over its leadership.

Apparently, seizing the moment, the Enugu lawmakers who have been speculated were eager to shift loyalty, cited the “existence of irreconcilable division, incessant crisis within the Labour Party at the national level and across all the state chapters,” as their reason.

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The Nigerian constitution forbids defection from one party to another by elected political office holders, except in cases of division in their original parties, or in the case of the merger of the previous parties, a loophole, the Enugu lawmakers, have now exploited to make good their long-expected switch.

While presenting themselves to Peter Mbah, the Governor of the state, they added: “Regrettably, the party has evolved into state of perpetual discord with various factions embroiled in legal battles, thereby undermining its ability to effectively serve the interest of the people.

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“The Labour Party once a beacon of hope for progressive ideas have regrettably become synonymous with internal squabbles, thereby reducing its capacity to fulfil the aspirations of electorate.”

Citing the national leadership tussle between the factions of Julius Abure and Lamidi Apapa as well as the national treasurer as some of the crises within the opposition party, they expressed hope that the PDP would give them the platform to continue to serve the interests of their people and thanked the leadership of the Labour Party for their support.

The defectors include the Chief Whip of the House and member representing Igboeze North I, Ejike Eze; the leader of the House and member representing Enugu North, Johnson Ugwu; the member representing Enugu South Urban, Princess Ugwu; member representing Nsukka West, Pius Ezeugwu; member representing Igbo-Etiti East, Amuka Williams, and member representing Oji River, Osita Eze.

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After move through a motion for their defection was moved by Iloabuchi Aniagu and was seconded by Jane Eneh, Harrison Ogara, spokesman of the Assembly, also elected on the platform of the party, said though the lawmakers enjoyed freedom of association, they should know that there is a section of the Constitution that states that any member of a political party that defects to another political party without fulfilling the constitutional provisions for defection will automatically lose his or her seat.

Ogara insisted that there was no crisis at ward, local government, and state levels of the party in Enugu State as well as the national level of the party that would have warranted them to defect to another political party.

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