June 15, 2010
The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Good Luck Jonathan in exercise of the power vested on him by Part 1, Section 14 (1) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, has appointed Seven (7) National Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Good Luck Jonathan in exercise of the power vested on him by Part 1, Section 14 (1) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, has appointed Seven (7) National Electoral Commissioners of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Those appointed are Ambassador Mohammed Anka, Hajiya Amina Zakari, Professor Lai Olurode, Col. Hamman Joda (rtd), Major General Bagudu Mamman, Alhaji Yakubu Shehu and Mr. Eddy Nwatalari respectively. By virtue Section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the appointment of the Chairman and Members of the Independent National Electoral Commission by the President is subject to the confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Part 1, Section 14 (1) (a) & (b) of the third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 provides that the Independent National Electoral Commission shall comprise of a Chairman and twelve other members known as National Electoral Commissioners.
It has been confirmed that Major General Bagudu Mamman, Alhaji Yakubu Shehu and Mr. Eddy Nwatalari are Staunch, Conscientious and Leading members of the Peoples Democratic Party. General Mamman is a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP and contested Senatorial Elections in 2003 and 2007 on the Platform of the PDP in respect of the Senate Seat for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Alhaji Shehu is the Chairman of PDP Stake Holders in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Mr. Eddy Nwatarali from Enugu State is a card carrying member of the PDP.
It will be recall that President Goodluck Jonathan in his last trip to Paris, France had said that the list of nominees or appointees for INEC will be open to public scrutiny and that any one found wanting will be dropped. Mr. President must withdraw the appointment of these Commissioners that are partisan. The position of the Law is that no one is required to be a Judge in his own cause. These Commissioners that are partisan cannot be expected to be neutral and impartial when the chips are down.
I, urge well meaning Nigerians to register their objections to the appointment of Ambassador Mohammed Anka, Major General Bagudu Mamman, Alhaji Yakubu Shehu and Mr. Eddy Nwatalari respectively by writing to the President of the Senate objecting to their appointments and requesting the Senate to confirm them.
I call for the immediate removal from office of the Resident Electoral Commissioners in State where the governorship election conducted in 2007 were annulled by the Court on account failure by the Independent National Electoral Commiss. These include Cross River, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kogi and Adamawa States. It is scandalous that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Cross River State who declared false results in respect of the Governorship election of 14th April, 2007 as found by the Court of Appeal (even though there was no election in the State) is still in office despite the indictment by the Court of Appeal. I invite all Nigerians to formally write to Mr. President to immediate removal from office these Resident Electoral Commissioners who have been found wanting by the Court. The President must purge from INEC corrupt and indicted officers who have contributed to its current creditability crisis. This is one of the ways to ensure there is free, fair and credible election in Nigeria come 2011.
Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla
· Obono-Obla is a Barrister & Human Rights Activist. He lives in Abuja, Nigeria.
Those appointed are Ambassador Mohammed Anka, Hajiya Amina Zakari, Professor Lai Olurode, Col. Hamman Joda (rtd), Major General Bagudu Mamman, Alhaji Yakubu Shehu and Mr. Eddy Nwatalari respectively. By virtue Section 154 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the appointment of the Chairman and Members of the Independent National Electoral Commission by the President is subject to the confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Part 1, Section 14 (1) (a) & (b) of the third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 provides that the Independent National Electoral Commission shall comprise of a Chairman and twelve other members known as National Electoral Commissioners.
It has been confirmed that Major General Bagudu Mamman, Alhaji Yakubu Shehu and Mr. Eddy Nwatalari are Staunch, Conscientious and Leading members of the Peoples Democratic Party. General Mamman is a member of the Board of Trustees of the PDP and contested Senatorial Elections in 2003 and 2007 on the Platform of the PDP in respect of the Senate Seat for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Alhaji Shehu is the Chairman of PDP Stake Holders in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Mr. Eddy Nwatarali from Enugu State is a card carrying member of the PDP.
It will be recall that President Goodluck Jonathan in his last trip to Paris, France had said that the list of nominees or appointees for INEC will be open to public scrutiny and that any one found wanting will be dropped. Mr. President must withdraw the appointment of these Commissioners that are partisan. The position of the Law is that no one is required to be a Judge in his own cause. These Commissioners that are partisan cannot be expected to be neutral and impartial when the chips are down.
I, urge well meaning Nigerians to register their objections to the appointment of Ambassador Mohammed Anka, Major General Bagudu Mamman, Alhaji Yakubu Shehu and Mr. Eddy Nwatalari respectively by writing to the President of the Senate objecting to their appointments and requesting the Senate to confirm them.
I call for the immediate removal from office of the Resident Electoral Commissioners in State where the governorship election conducted in 2007 were annulled by the Court on account failure by the Independent National Electoral Commiss. These include Cross River, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kogi and Adamawa States. It is scandalous that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Cross River State who declared false results in respect of the Governorship election of 14th April, 2007 as found by the Court of Appeal (even though there was no election in the State) is still in office despite the indictment by the Court of Appeal. I invite all Nigerians to formally write to Mr. President to immediate removal from office these Resident Electoral Commissioners who have been found wanting by the Court. The President must purge from INEC corrupt and indicted officers who have contributed to its current creditability crisis. This is one of the ways to ensure there is free, fair and credible election in Nigeria come 2011.
Okoi Ofem Obono-Obla
· Obono-Obla is a Barrister & Human Rights Activist. He lives in Abuja, Nigeria.
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