LEADERSHIP TUSSLE: INEC CHAIRMAN RISKS JAIL TERM FOR CONTEMPT -NNPP
Leadership tussle: INEC chairman risks jail term for contempt -NNPP
The New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP on Wednesday explained why it went for a closed door meeting with the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amiputan in Abuja on Tuesday, March 5.
Recall that a selected executives of the NNPP led by their counsel met with INEC chairman at the commission's headquarters in Abuja.
This is contained in a statement by the NNPP Secretary General, Comrade Ogini Olaposi on Wednesday.
Olaposi stated that the meeting which was called to get the INEC chairman to obey court orders regarding the NNPP leadership tussle was stalemated and seemingly unproductive.
"We have had enough patience with INEC, preferring to tow the line of peace and due process in pursing our rights over its delay in uploading the authentic leadership of our party.
Dr Boniface Aniebonam as Founder and Chairman Board of Trustees and Dr Agbo Major as Chairman, National Working Committee (NWC).
"We have had to call off a protest against the commission for fear of it being hijacked by hoodlums. We have gone to several courts including appeal courts where INEC was ordered to obey rulings regarding recognizing the Major led NWC.
"After the meeting with Amupitan, it became obvious that democracy is at high risk at the moment in Nigeria and that the commission is bent on disobeying the court orders for whatever reason.
The INEC chairman could not explain why he has refused to obey a compelling order of the court to upload the original logo and colour symbol of the NNPP to its national server." Olaposi stated.
According to him, the meeting lasted for over one hour with the INEC chairman not being able to give a valid reason for the commission's actions.
"At the meeting, our lawyer went through the judgments of Abia State High Court, Federal Capital Territory High Courts and the Owerri Appeal Court and left professor Joash Amupitan at no doubts he was being partisan and or compromised not to obey court orders.
In all these judgments , victory were secured over the Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso group.
"The most striking embarrassment to rule of law is the mandamus order compelling the commission to upload our NWC members within 72hrs and file an affidavit of compliance. Prof Amupitan refused to comply
"As if this is not enough, the Owerri appeal court judgment led by Justice Ntong Ntong gave further order to Amupitan to comply and yet he refused.
"As at the time we left the professor in his office, he could not give us any valid reason or reasons why the commission refused to obey the court orders.
"What professor Amupitan as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria could say when he was asked when he shall be obeying the order of the court, was that we shall hear from him."
According to Olaposi, it simply means that the NNPP may hear from Prof Amupitan even when the elections are over. Prof Amupitan is even conscious of the electoral time table.
We wonder whoever may be the beneficiary of using INEC to disobey court orders.
"What is certain at the moment is that the NNPP will use every lawful means to pursue justice and compel INEC to obey the courts. A further judicial review for comital to jail shall not be an exception to enable justice to all manner people, society and even the dead
"Aside from this intents, we shall equally approach the court for extension of time of the INEC 2027 general election time table to enable the NNPP to participate .
"We urge President Bola Tinubu , the leadership of the national assembly, the chief justice of the federation, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Inspector General of Police to take note of Prof Amupitan activities at the commission.
"It is unbelievable and disturbing that a professor of law and senior advocate of Nigeria, can have this level of disrespect for the rule of law. What we observe at the moment is that Prof Amupitan may have turned the commission to supreme court of Nigeria.
"This is not inline with the renewed hope agenda of Mr President," Olaposi added.
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