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NNPP Decries Kano Tribunal Describing Its Members As Bandits, Terrorists

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NNPP Decries Kano Tribunal Describing Its Members As Bandits, Terrorists

………Considers petitioning NJC over comment

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has criticized the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal over comments credited to the panel in the press that supporters of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and leadership of the party in Kano State were violent and engaged in acts of banditry and terrorism.

In a statement in Lagos at the weekend and made available to journalists, National Auditor of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Barrister Ladipo Johnson raised serious objections to what he described as “indecorous and libelous language” used by the panel, in order to tarnish the image of leaders and members of the party.

The statement was particularly miffed by the portions of the publication where a member of the panel, Justice Benson Anya, condemned NNPP members, who he referred to as  “the gang of Red Cap wearers who, like a violent and terrorist cult, chased us out of Kano and put us in the fear of our lives”.

It also condemned Justice Benson Anya’s remarks that “instead of some Kano politicians to be allowed to use banditry and violence to abort democracy in Kano State, justice will be used to stop them from destroying democracy in Kano and upward.”

The NNPP stalwart vehemently objected to such language, which, he stated, was unbecoming of a Judge and defender of the law.

“Of course, the indecorous, libelous, and outright condemnable comments credited to the panel and especially those portions where Justice Benson Anya went beyond his judicial bounds of immunity and acted as if he is an interested party in the matter by casting aspersions on the leadership and members of NNPP, spurious, regrettable, uncouth and based on sentiments,’’ the statement lamented.

“To any rational observer, it should be glaringly obvious that Justice Anya’s lengthy rebuke, insult, and insensitive remarks against NNPP individually and collectively were rather unprecedented, and not based on the facts, evidence, and law before the Tribunal. One would think that he has taken sides as an interested party and as such has prejudiced the judgement of the court”.

The statement further noted that “Justice Benson Anya may have been trying to curry the public sympathy by painting the “wearers of the red cap” as “terrorists and bandits,” a terrible application of sentiments to validate a historic and epic miscarriage of justice”. He stated that apparently, this Judge that have been petitioned against in Abia state and wondered why he would have been nominated to the panel in the first place.

He reiterated that the NNPP will consider all options including petitioning the NJC over the utterances of the Judge, and shall appeal the tribunal’s verdict which removed Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as Kano governor, stressing that the party was confident that justice will be delivered at the Appellate Court in due course to reinforce the faith of the people in the judiciary and democracy.

The statement added that it now seems apparently clear that justice was not served by the Election Petition Panel which had all its sittings in Kano without any report of violence or disruptions, and then all of a sudden, decided to give their judgement via Zoom from some obscure place that remains a mystery to us!

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ACAGL, 23 affiliate organizations Withdraws Support for Nationwide Protest

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Kano- The Arewa Citizens’ Action for Good Leadership (ACAGL) and 23 other affiliate organizations in Kano State have announced their decision to withdraw support from the proposed nationwide protest, citing concerns over the potential for violence and instability.

Addressing the press conference, Comrade Saeed Sulaiman Umar, the spokesman for ACAGL, said the severe economic hardship and insecurity facing the country.

“The economic woes and general hardship are prevalent in Nigeria today,” Umar said. “Many hardworking people can no longer fulfill their basic responsibilities to their families.”

Initially, ACAGL actively participated in mobilizing people for the nationwide protest, considering the dire conditions of insecurity, hunger, and starvation.

According to him after careful consideration, they decided to withdraw from the planned protest.

He said the decision is borne out of the desire to prioritize the peace and stability of our Kano State and the northern region,”

He said . “We have witnessed the devastating effects of protests in some countries, where peaceful demonstrations escalated into violent conflicts, resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property.”

Despite their withdrawal, ACAGL said there is the need for urgent government action to address the pressing issues affecting Nigerians.

They called on the Kano State government to provide immediate relief to its citizens and presented several demands to the Federal Government, including tackling insecurity, reducing petrol prices, reversing electricity tariffs, and reducing the cost of governance.

“We believe that the timing of the protest is not in the best interest of the nation and may only serve to exacerbate the existing challenges,” Umar concluded.

 

 

 

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We can comfortably handle LG elections- INEC chair tells NASS

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Thursday it can comfortably handle the conduct of local government elections if the responsibility falls on it.

Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the commission, made the disclosure when he appeared before the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters on preparations for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo States.

According to the chairman, INEC has the capacity to handle the local government elections, but that would only be possible pending when the law is amended to permit it to do so.

Prof. Yakubu noted that the Commission had been conducting area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, which has been devoid of the problems associated with the conduct of local government elections.

He outlined some advantages of INEC handling elections, including the conduct of regular elections as they are due, stability of tenure, and absence of a caretaker committee in the FCT.

The election umpire boss also claimed that there has never been a time when one political party has won all the seats at the elections, as is common in the states.

According to him, if INEC handles the election, it would be better for democracy.

Yakubu, however, said this can only happen if the constitution is amended to take the responsibility from state electoral commissions.

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Doguwa dumps APC, gives reason

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Kano- The All Progressives Congress (APC)  has lost a strong member in Kano as Senator Masaud El-Jibril Doguwa dumped the party.

Doguwa made this announcement through a statement where he spoke on behalf of his colleagues and associates, on Thursday on reasons for dumping the party.

According to the statement, he cited the feelings of underutilization and the party’s implementation of anti-people policies as reasons for their departure from the APC..

He despite their wealth of experience in politics, they were rarely involved in party forums to share their expertise and contribute to the development of the APC.

“In politics, if you fail to engage highly experienced politicians by providing them with political assignments, you are making them politically redundant, and giving them room to struggle and engage themselves elsewhere. This is because highly experienced politicians don’t want to stay idle,’’ the statement said.

He further expressed disappointment with the APC government’s policies, which he believes are harmful to ordinary citizens. “After careful appraisal, I have discovered that some of the policies are anti-people-oriented and do not align with our political ideology.’’

“These policies are causing more harm and concern than good to the ordinary and common citizens of the country.

“From what we have seen happening in APC, we have not seen light in the tunnel where an ordinary man, big or small, will sigh a relief from the burden of life with the APC approach on issues.”

Senator Doguwa revealed that they have been appealed to by friends and leaders to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which they helped establish and develop. “We have taken a bold decision to return to our political base, the PDP, to continue as full-fledged members,” he declared.

He emphasized that their decision was made without malice towards any individual or group, expressing gratitude and seeking God’s blessings.

 

 

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