- Says It's A Plot To Frustrate Senate's Screening Of The INEC Boss And Destabilise Electoral Process
By Celestine Okafor (Publisher/Editor-in-Chief)
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has condemned, in very strong terms, the allegation by a popular news Online portal (not Nigerian Newsleader Newspaper Online), that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmoud Yakubu, bribed the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan, with a whopping $2b to ensure positive Senate's screening/confirmation of his presidential nomination for another five year tenure as chairman of INEC.
IPAC however described the allegation contained in the online media report as a hollow contrivance by some desperate political stakeholders just to smear Prof Mahmoud Yakubu and hijack the powers of the Senate to screen and confirm or reject the nomination of the chairman of the nation's electoral umpire.
IPAC stated its position during an emergency press conference on Friday held at its new national secretariat in Abuja, and presided over by its newly elected national chairman, Dr Leonard Nzenwa, along with his equally new national executive members.
IPAC, which is the umbrella body of 18 registered political parties in Nigeria, also accused the unnamed desperate political stakeholders it described as "loyalists of the President in the day time, but who wear a treacherous dress to undo the President and scuttle his government's agenda" of engaging in deadly clandestine plot to "procure a midnight judgement" at the Federal High Court in other to "destabilize the nation's electoral stability and throw INEC into a leadership vacuum" just to allegedly foster their devious political interest in the 2023 general elections.
IPAC which denied in a post-press conference question and answer interactive with newsmen present, that the group was not working for the INEC boss nor unduly being protective of his interest, said, according to its chairman, Dr Leonard Nzenwa, that it's position was born out of concern as a major stakeholder in the nation's electoral process, to ensure its sanctity and deepen democracy in Nigeria by ensuring that Nigeria's electoral gains in recent times under Professor Mahmoud Yakubu in INEC was not eroded by anti-democratic forces in pursuit of fiendish and self-serving political agenda.
IPAC however recalled at the media briefing, that "On 18th November, 2020, two hired hands purportedly filed a matter in the Federal High Court aimed at stopping the Senate from screening the nominee and nullifying the appointment made by the President, citing that until the Police completes an imaginary criminal investigation, the screening should not take place. This would seem normal to the ordinary eyes but it has been confirmed that the matter was filed, processed, assigned and dispatched to the judge on the same 18th day of November, 2020 that it was filed. Legally, these are processes that ordinarily take 2 weeks to complete. How fast our justice system now moves".
IPAC continued: "They had earlier surreptitiously filed a suit to seek an order to stop the screening at an FCT High Court but the courageous jurist before whom it came, while rejecting their evil Exparte Motion to stop the screening of the INEC nominee, restated the fact that no law court can stop internal parliamentary functions which have not been completed. Having failed, they went to market again, claiming to be shopping for any rogue judge who would accede to their evil plot".
IPAC however revealed that the same individuals "have now filed same suit at the Federal High Court and got it processed, assigned and dispatched within minutes to another Judge court hoping to continue to pursue this diabolic mission. These elements and their backers want confusion and crisis to engulf our electoral space", the group stated.
Full text of the IPAC's Press Conference is published herewith:
TEXT OF PRESS STATEMENT BY THE INTER PARTY ADVISORY COUNCIL, IPAC, ON ATTEMPT TO USE THE JUDICIARY TO DESTABILIZE OUR ELECTORAL PROCESS AND SYSTEM, AND FRUSTRATE SCREENING OF THE INEC CHAIRMAN NOMINEE, PROF. MAHMOOD YAKUBU AND OTHER ISSUES
Gentlemen of the Press
On February 10, 2020 when we took the bold step of rallying ourselves together to promote the mutual interest of the 18 registered political parties after the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC de-listment we were resolved to ensure that stakeholders and forces bent on eroding gains made in the electoral process and system are checked and made to align with broader effort to improve the electoral process and ensure that we continue to have inclusive, peaceful, credible, free, fair and transparent polls in the country.
We were clear, firm and resolute that we would work harmoniously with all stakeholders including the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and this informed why when we observed the rancorous build up to the Edo and Ondo Gubernatorial Polls we alerted the nation on August 11, 2020, calling on Nigerians to eschew electoral violence and stop the politics of kill and Go.
It is gratifying to note that the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC call was heeded by both INEC, on the need to conduct credible election, especially in Edo, and on politicians and other stakeholders to stop overheating the polity. We have never ceased in doing this.
Events in the last few days in our polity demands intervention of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC to support in steering things aright, and also to alert Nigerians of the insidious plot to unsettle the polity through destabilizing the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and scuttle the reform instituted by the former National Chairman, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu who has stepped down from the Commission but who President Mohammadu Buhari re-appointed and transmitted confirmation to the Senate.
What we can't take away is that the independent National Electoral Commission, INEC under Professor Mahmood Yakubu achieved respectable results during his first tenure. The Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC was happy with Mahmoods’ reappointment and made this clear in its congratulatory message on October 30, 2020. We noted unambiguously that the positive technology and digitization trajectory he set for the Commission remains impressive with reformation agenda he plans for the political process and system before expiration of his first tenure. However, these laudable achievement is being disparaged by forces who will stop at nothing to ensure that the country do not move forward.
We have reached the point where we must jettison political differences and stand for Nigeria. The dishonorable tendency to pull every thing down if it does not favour ones predilection or suits ones’ whims and caprices is leading many to indulge in acts that mocks the senses and drains the soul. Some Nigerians are it again to unsettle the polity and halt screening of the INEC Chairman Nominee, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
Following announcement of the reappointment of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu for a second term in office as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which received widespread support across party lines, little did we know that a few desperate stakeholders including anti –progressive politicians were not happy and have conspired amongst themselves to hijack the legislative powers of the Senate to screen and confirm the nominee. Same forces set afoot a deadly plot to procure a midnight court order to destabilize the electoral stability of the country and throw the electoral body into leadership vacuum. This gambit spearheaded by those who claim to be loyalists to Mr. President in the day time but wear a treacherous dress to undo the President and sabotage his agenda in pursuit of a desperate ambition to be president and governors in 2023. It is all about 2023 and how to hawkishly destroy in anything in sight that will stay in their ways.
On 18th November, 2020, two hired hands purportedly filed a matter in the Federal High Court aimed at stopping the Senate from screening the nominee and nullifying the appointment made by the President citing that until the Police completes an imaginary criminal investigation, the screening should not take place. This would seem normal to the ordinary eyes but it has been confirmed that the matter was filed, processed, assigned and dispatched to the judge on the same 18th day of November, 2020 that it was filed. Legally, these are processes that ordinarily take 2 weeks to complete. How fast our justice system now moves.
They had earlier surreptitiously filed a suit to seek an order to stop the screening at an FCT High Court but the courageous jurist before whom it came while rejecting their evil Exparte Motion to stop the screening of the INEC nominee restated the fact that no law court can stop internal parliamentary functions which have not been completed. Having failed, they went to market again claiming to be shopping for any rogue judge who would accede to their evil plot.
They have now filed same suit at the Federal High Court and got it processed, assigned and dispatched within minutes to another Judge court hoping to continue to pursue this diabolic mission. These elements and their backers want confusion and crisis to engulf our electoral space.
We are deeply concerned that moves of these nature should not swept under the carpet and be dismissed with a wave of the hand as doing so in the past have led to disastrous consequences for the polity. Nigerians will recall that just before the 2019 elections, a former Chief Justice of Nigeria was removed in similar circumstances with an Exparte order filed, processed and heard on the same day by even a tribunal that only has quasi criminal jurisdiction. We counsel strongly against this move as the country is still reeling from #ENDSARS protest that claimed many lives and destruction of several properties across the country.
Efforts have been made in the past to reach out the Council in this bid to disavow Prof. Mahmood Yakubu nomination but we declined because we are convinced the stability of the electoral process and ongoing reforms by Prof. Yakubu are very promising and when fully implemented as it holds the key to unlocking our nation’s electoral challenges.
Whilst IPAC will not stand in the way of any politician or stakeholder that desire to pursue his or her electoral ambition in 2023, the brutish manner many of them including very senior and close ministers and top aid(s) of President Mohammadu Buhari has become worrisome; everything is being thrown now to derail the polity even if it is to destroy the respectable achievements made by the electoral umpire and the scuttling of the screening of Prof. Mahmood Yakubus by the Senate.
IPAC also frown at use of media houses especially Sahara Reporter and others had on the same 18th day of November, 2020 mobilized the fake news online portal to publish very bland and unfounded allegations of bribery and corruption against Prof. Yakubu. The Fake news portal alleged that the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan received the sum of $2 Billion from Prof Mahmood to aid his appointment. Overheating the polity in this manner will not serve the nation any good. Nigerians has a right to question, complain, investigate, query activities of INEC and Prof. Mahmmood tenure but we call for this to be done in a proper manner. It is Nigeria’s right to do this
We as the body of all registered political parties have unanimously accepted Prof. Mahmoods’ nomination and agreed to a speedy screening and nothing can change that.
We therefore call on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to personally investigate the processes filed in this case, the circumstances of the lightning speed processing and assignment of this case within minutes and order the transfer of this matter to any other judge of the Federal High Court as the events following the filing showed that the suit was guided to its present destination.
We also use this opportunity to call on the Senate to save the country and all its institutions these present plots of desecration by speedily reconvening to consider, screen and confirm the nominee, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. This is needless tension that the non-confirmation has caused.
We do not need these distractions that are capable of casting doubt credibility of the 2023 general election. This evil plot to hijack the Election Management Body prior to a general election is novel in our political atmosphere. We must not let this to happen. The President has made a nomination which has enjoyed widespread applause both locally and internationally and the best we all can all do is to give support and not let these undertakers to have a job to do.
Thank You,
Dr. Leonard Nzenwa Chairman, IPAC 20/11/2020
NNL.
