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  • The Obvious Disconnect Between The Constituents And Their Representatives Is My Motivation To Offer Myself To Serve My People – Okiri

    The Obvious Disconnect Between The Constituents And Their Representatives Is My Motivation To Offer Myself To Serve My People – Okiri

     

    Mr Cosmas Okiri, an aspirant to represent Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, comes 2023 under the People’s Democratic Party PDP, has stated that the disconnect between the constituents and their representative is his major motivation to aspire to bridge the gap.

    In this interview with The Lumine News, he bares his mind.

    TLN: Can we meet you please?

    Cosmas: My name is Cosmas Okiri, from Ukwutia village in Utugwang North ward of Obudu LGA. I hold a masters in Business Administration from the University of Calabar and an international certified Supply Chain Professional with about 15 years experience in the oil and Gas industry. A former student unionist and Trade union leader with a passion for serving and liberating people.

    TLN: What is your motivation to serve?

    Cosmas: My motivation to offer myself to serve the people of Obudu state constituency is drawn from the obvious disconnect between the constituents and the supposed Representative in the state Assembly in the past administrations. Majority of Obudu constituents do not know who is representing them presently in the House of Assembly. worse still is the fact that the representative doesn’t know upto 2% of those she represents. How then can we achieve the best for our people when there is this gap disconnecting the people. I intend to bridge this gap and bring on board an all inclusive participatory approach of representation to midwife group impact and effect on the people and not individuals effect, where others are only onlookers.

    TLN: What is your plan for youth inclusiveness in your policy formulation and implementation?

    Cosmas: The youths remains the main focus of my policy blue print as I personally have a passion for youth development as the youths constitute more than 60% of the populace and remains the most active resource for our collective growth and development as a nation. I intend to engage the youths and carry them along in every project to be embarked on. I will work with the youth council and students associations to synergize and achieve this.

    TLN: How do you intend to harness the vast potentials in the youths to solving the myriads of challenges confronting us using the Tech Solution?

    Cosmas: The youths remains the most active part of the entire population in our constituency and the world over, this should be seen as an advantage to be utilized for the good of the populace. If the energy and active ingredients that the youths go about with is not properly harnessed and positively utilized, they will channel it to something negative and unwholesome to the detriment of the society. I will engage and encourage the youths in capacity building by providing the right activities and resources required to keep them on the positive track. This includes but not limited to special skills acquisition in ICT training majorly and other important sectors of the economy where they can provide needed services and earn income.

    TLN: How do you intend to advance the course of empowerment in your constituency?

    Cosmas: My approach to empewring my constituents will be first to engage the people in quarterly town hall meetings and getting first hand priorities from a collective perspective, the areas that would best benefit our people and then providing the needed resources to boost such activities our people engage in. Empowerment should have a collective impact and effect on the people and not only individual effect where others are only onlookers.

    TLN: Bearing in mind that your constituents are predominantly peasant farmers, what is your plan to advance their livelihood?

    Cosmas: Agriculture remains the most important aspect of any economy as we need food for sustenance and commercial purposes. The raw materials required by most of our industries are from the Agricultural sector and this has to be properly harnessed by our local farmers. We will encourage the peasant farmers with the necessary things required to boost and expand their farming scope to be able to earn better income from their farming activities. Empowerment in the Agricultural sector will be a focal point.

    TLN: How do you intend to strengthen stakeholders engagement in your constituency?

    Cosmas: I intend to be holding townhall meetings with the constituents every quarter, thereby providing opportunity for continued engagement with the people where needs assessment will be carried out per time and worked on for the collective good of the people.

    TLN: Your party, the PDP is all over saying that it has returned the powers to the people to elect their leaders, do you have the confidence that you will have a level playing ground to advance your aspiration?

    Cosmas: The people’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State is on a new pedestal with a leadership that fought strongly against imposition and anti-democratic tendency of previous party leaders. The narratives have changed as witnessed by party faithfuls in the recent by-elections for Akpabuyo state house of Assembly seat and Ogoja/Yala Federal house of Representative. The party conducted a transparent primaries where all aspirants had a level playing field and accepted the outcome of the process without bickering.

    This has given me confidence as an aspirant to remain hopeful that the party will do the right thing.

    I have been a long standing party faithful and strongly believe that PDP is the right democratic platform to progress my ambition to serve our people.

    TLN: How have you impacted your people previously?

    Cosmas: In my private and personal life, I have reached out and supported a lot of students and youths from the constituency and believe that with the expanded scope of public office will offer me, it will give a better opportunity and liverage to impact the general populace through programs and projects that will benefit the people.

    TLN: What is your campaign ideology and your advice to your supporters?

    Cosmas: My campaign ideology is providing an all inclusive participatory representation in the house of Assembly if voted into office, comes 2023.
    The Obudu constituents have not felt any sense of representation for some years going in the CRSHA and we intend to bring back those days of reckoning where the people are properly carried along and people oriented legislation is being promoted in the legislative assembly.

    We will review obsolete laws in existence and bring on more relevant motions and bulls related to trending issues that best suits the modern and evolving society of this digital age.

  • Sandy Onor To Run A Participatory Government

    Sandy Onor To Run A Participatory Government

     

    By Amaechi Victor

    Democracy is often defined in the words of Abraham Lincoln as “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is indeed a system of Government which gives power to the people as they not only choose those who preside over their affairs but are also expected to be active participants in the managing of their collective affairs towards the good of all. It is therefore no wonder that a society like ours as it is today, cannot in all truthfulness, be defined as a democratic society. A society where power belongs to a few cabal who dispenses such as they deem fit just as every conscious effort is made to deny the people freedom of speech in the running of their own affairs; cannot qualify as a democratic society. Can the people be exonerated from any blame towards this ugly situation?

    When we as a people for whatever reason fail to ask the right questions towards the pedigree and intent of those who seek to preside over our affairs; when avarice and wanton materialism make us settle for less than the best in choosing our leaders; when we allow sentiments to becloud our sense of accurate judgements; when we are complacent in the manner is which our affairs are handled: the result no doubt, would be bad leadership with all its attendant maladies such as those prevalent in our National and State Governments. For how long shall this dangerous dive towards the very lowest ebb of acclaimed leadership continue? For how long shall the people continue to wallow in compromise, ignorance and darkness? Who is that leader that would take the lead towards returning power to the people thus letting them witness first hand, the very many great potentials that they possess and how such can be harnessed for the good of the Society?

    Cross River, our dear State is a State blessed with unprecedented natural and human resources waiting to be tapped. A State of great minds in various fields of endeavour such that can be harnessed to bring about a mind-blowing development in the history of our Country. Why then, has ours remained a laughing stock in the comity of States, a complete shadow of itself? The answer is simple; there has not been a participatory Government engineered by a credible Leader with some sincerity of purpose towards harnessing our abundant human resources for the development of our State. This terrible situation no doubt brought about a total lack of confidence in Government hence, the people could not participate in the handling of their own affairs just as a few who tried even against all odds, do not have any good stories to tell as they were either ripped off of their resources or utterly neglected. The result of this bravado of callousness is the terrible shape of our State and her Citizens today. No doubt, the times of that ultimate decision is here again and the question is, is there someone bringing to the table, a total paradigm shift from the callousness and governmental decadence we have witnessed so far?

    “…Once I identify a talent that would be of significant help to move our State forward, I will never hesitate to work with such a person…”; “…Your input into the State economy is very significant..We will go into Collaboration with you..You are stakeholders in Cross River proejct…”; “…In appreciation of our limitations, we shall set up an Advisory Council that will be composed of seasoned, accomplished and knowledgeable Cross River Sons and Daughters to catalyze our much needed regeneration, reorganization and re-engineering..” Senator Prof Sandy Onor 2020. These Statements made at different occasions by the only credible frontline gubernatorial aspirant in our State, go a long way to demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt, his willingness and preparedness to run a participatory Government where Cross Riverians would reclaim and rebuild Cross River and make her a pride State.

    Yes, Senator Prof Sandy Onor is a firm believer in participatory Governance. This he demonstrated starting from his early year at the national assembly through constituency briefing and interactions. Participatory Government is indeed not alien to the person of R
    Senator Prof Sandy Onor and there is indeed no doubt that under his watch, Cross River people will no longer be spectators in the handling of their affairs rather active participants. His determination to tap into our abundant human resources towards reclaiming and rebuilding our State, is indeed commendable and a right step in the right direction. The question is, how ready are we to key into his optimism of reclaiming and rebuilding Cross River State and making her a proud home for all of us; how prepared are we to answer this clarion call?

    Vote integrity! Vote Credibility! Vote Preparedness! Vote Participatory Governance! Support Sandy Onor for Governor Cross River State!

    #JoinHandsToReclaimRebuildCrossRiverState

  • Why Okpoko: For me, It Is One Anambra, One People, One Agenda – Soludo

    Why Okpoko: For me, It Is One Anambra, One People, One Agenda – Soludo

    Why Okpoko?

    One of the amusing retortions I have received since I expressed readiness to set off from Okpoko is, “why Okpoko?”. There seems to be some sense of self-centred prioritisation from a few who believe there are more pressing issues than heading to Okpoko on a rescue mission. When you probe further to situate their dissent in context, what you get is that innocent desire in all of us to always “begin charity from home”. This may not be totally bad, especially when we all agree where home is or should be.

    For me, it is One Anambra, one People, one Agenda.

    If this be the case, it then follows that the often taken for granted but real assumption that “every system is only as strong as its weakest link” must then apply. This makes Okpoko a priority for starters and should worry every onye Anambra how a State that prides itself as the light of the nation would keep a deafening silence as Okpoko dies, yet spreading infectious social, economic and environmental malady that leaves Onitsha as a City in self-destruct.

    Ụmụnnem, ife dị na Okpoko; the Genius, the unemployed and the criminal. The challenge before us is to decide whether to continue ruing the ugly situation or turn the flipside that will provide us enormous opportunities for the development of our Homeland.

    Okpoko is the largest Urban slum in Anambra State. Therefore, we have to begin our urban renewal effort from our weakest link. Like my now 16 year old daughter once asked me when she was just 14, “it is not enough to wish change or show the will to cause a change. How are you sure, Daddy, that the people themselves want to change?”

    Of course, this is not so easy a question to be answered without far-reaching consultation with the people. So far, the people of Okpoko and residents, from Ndikpa to East Niger, are more in a hurry for a change than we can ever be.

    That trip I made in 2009 to Okpoko where I was accosted by a little boy, who raced towards me and audaciously demanded, “Soludo nyem ego” still occupies a better part of my memory. That boy, and millions like him need much more than money. They need a life.

    May God help us!

    CC. Soludo

  • Just In: EFCC Arrests Obiano At Lagos Airport

    Just In: EFCC Arrests Obiano At Lagos Airport

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arrested former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport Lagos.

    Obiano, who has been on the Commission’s watchlist, was arrested at about 8.30pm.

    He was reportedly on his way out of the country to Houston, Texas in the United States after handing over to his successor, Governor Charles Soludo.

    Channels Television had reported last November how the EFCC had placed Mr Obiano on a watchlist.

    The EFCC had requested the Nigeria Immigration Service to inform it anytime the Governor is travelling out of the country from any of the international airports, as well as other points of entry and exit.

    It is, however, not yet clear why the anti-graft agency placed the governor on a watchlist.

    Sources told Channels Television that the move was an indication that the agency may have been discreetly investigating the governor and possibly have intelligence that he was planning to escape after handing over power to his successor, Professor Charles Soludo, on March 16, 2022.

    Former Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Don Adinuba, had, at the time, condemned the EFCC watchlist reports, claiming that they were politically motivated.

    “Governor Obiano has a whole four months to remain in office as the Anambra State chief executive,” Adinuba said. “Nobody in Nigeria can circumscribe his constitutionally conferred immunity which shields him from both criminal and civil prosecution.

    “The EFCC went too far to announce in November that it is observing him. We are not aware of any state governor who had up to four months to be in office and the EFCC went on to sponsor media reports that he was being investigated.”

  • NJC Places FCT Judge On Watchlist Over Misconduct

    NJC Places FCT Judge On Watchlist Over Misconduct

    Justice Muawiyah Baba Idris of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, has been placed on watchlist over alleged misconduct.

    Soji Oye, spokesman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), announced this in a statement, saying the action was taken at the 97th meeting of the council on March 15 and March 16, 2022.

    Justice Idris was indicted for signing the Writ of Possession for execution on the same day he delivered judgement in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/FT/36/19 between Sicons Nigeria Ltd V Nile Place Restaurant and Catering Services Ltd. The Suit was for recovery of demised property.

    The Council said the action was in contravention of Proviso to Order 27 Rule (16) (b) High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Procedure Rules 2018 and Order 4 (1) and (2) of the Judgement Enforcement Rules 2004.

    Another judge, Mohammed M. Ladan of the Kaduna State High Court, was issued a warning.

    The Council reportedly found merit in the petition written against Ladan in Suit No. KDH/KAD/1321/2018 between VTLS Inc. Vs Ahmadu Bello University. He signed the Writ of Attachment while the Garnishee Order Nisi was pending.

    According to Oye, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, Chief Justice of Nigeria, recommended the appointment of six heads of courts and nine judicial officers for the federal and state high courts.

    The Council considered the list of candidates presented by its interview committee and recommended 15 judges to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment.

    Chief Judge David Gwong Mann (Plateau); Chief Judge Joseph Ahmed Awak (Gombe); Grand Kadi Abdulrahman Umar Abubakar (Kaduna); Kadi Abdurrahman Umar Abubakar (Kaduna); Kadi Shuaibu Dahiru Ahmad (Taraba); President Customary Court of Appeal Ihemnacho Wilfred Obuzor (Rivers); and President Customary Court of Appeal Sampson Mbeh Anjor (Cross River).

    Meanwhile, the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Emmanuel Gakko and the Deputy Chief Registrar, Segun-Bello Mabel Taiye are among the six judges appointed to the court.

    Others are, Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman, Aminu Garba, Musa Sulaiman Liman, and Ahmad Gama Mahmud.

    Others are Joseph Adebayo Aina (FCT); Sharia Court of Appeal Kadi Sallau Ismaila Madugu (Taraba); and Judge Customary Court of Appeal Bulus Samuelson Nyiputen (Taraba).

  • Amb Nkoyo Toyo Is Changing Political Campaign Narrative. What She Told Odukpani Youths

    Amb Nkoyo Toyo Is Changing Political Campaign Narrative. What She Told Odukpani Youths

     

    By Our Reporter

    The Founder of Gender And Development Action and a major contender for the office of governor of Cross River State, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo met with youths of Odukpani local government area to intimate them of her intention to contest for the office of Governor.

    Amb Toyo, a former federal lawmaker at the meeting stressed the need for young people to begin to ask aspirants the right questions that will generate right answers.

    She cautioned young people against thuggery and all forms of political violence, while advising them to refrain from being used as channels of destruction by some politicians and enemies of democracy.

    At Odot ward, Amb Nkoyo Toyo appreciated the youths for coming out in their numbers to receive her and called on them to take time and scrutinize all those aspiring for the office of governor within the PDP family and choose from the best.

    Amb. Toyo who is the only female aspirant so far in PDP for the office of governor, described herself as the best person for the job with all the qualities of a leader.

    “Among all of use aspiring for this job, look at us very well and our qualifications, networks, previous achievements and judge us by that. The PDP has a lot of work to do. We are in the opposition and as such we need to project a candidate who is easy to market to the people. Not those who the people will reject even before you begin to talk about them

    “if they say the have gone to school, I have, they say they have been to the national assembly, I have also been there. Infact, my records while there speakes volume, more so with the testimonies all of you have mentioned here” Toyo said.

    In Adiabo ward where Amb Toyo also met with the youths leaders, she cautioned them against selling their consciences and votes for a token and suffer for another four years.

    Some of the youths who spoke at the meeting expressed appreciation to her for the visit while saluting her courage to contest for the office of governor come 2023.

    Amb. Toyo becomes the only governorship aspirant in the PDP who is connecting directly to the people through town hall meetings with different groups including Elders, Women, Youths and people living with disability across the state. A complete departure from the traditional campaign gatherings typical with politicians.

    According to her “we must change the narrative, this is the only way you can really know the problems of the people ward by ward, village by village and local government by local government. We want to be sure that at the end of the day, the people makes the right choice with the power that they have”

  • As A Property Lawyer, If You Are Not Very Careful And Disciplined, Clients Will Maltreat You To The Point Of Tempting You To Cut Corners Just To Earn Your Fees BY FIRST BABA ISA

    As A Property Lawyer, If You Are Not Very Careful And Disciplined, Clients Will Maltreat You To The Point Of Tempting You To Cut Corners Just To Earn Your Fees BY FIRST BABA ISA

     

    Most clients think that until they buy the property you don’t deserve to be paid for consultancy and doing due diligence for them. In other words, if you do due diligence for them and find out the property is not “clean” and ask them not to buy, they don’t think they owe you a fee. They will just tell you “thanks” and walk away.

    This is why some colleagues and agents don’t care about due diligence. Once a client points them to a property, they will just take a day or two, do absolutely nothing, then just report back to the client that the property is clean, the client will pay for the property and small generational curse on it, everybody will share the money and leave the client and his children’s children to deal with the wahala.

    Agents even laugh at people like us. They will say, “Barrister, all these things you are checking, just know we can’t share the money if you tell them not to buy o. You won’t see shishi.”

    And they are always right.

    I will check AGIS, check CAC to see the directors and shareholders of the company offering the land for sale; I will spend my time, money and expertise in all these and I will advise a client not to buy because of legal issues on the property, and they will say thanks and walk away. Talking about next time, when the deal click, we go do you well. Emeka, you are a bascad! Do who well, which next time?

    Mehn, I’m just tired. I have to start suing these clients for my fees, what no lawyer wants to do, since I can’t just lie to a client that a property has no issues so that he can buy and pay my fees.

    My tired is tired.

    By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author First Baba Isa and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • David Umahi: Who Did You Vote For, Party Or Candidate? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    David Umahi: Who Did You Vote For, Party Or Candidate? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    DAVID UMAHI: WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR, PARTY OR CANDIDATE?

    Until the Supreme Court puts this to rest, and even long after that, this debate will rage on. My joy is that the Supreme Court is not just a Court of Law but also one of policy. The Law Lords will not just look at the law, but logic and commonsense surrounding the facts and the law.

    Who owns the votes cast at an election? Party or candidate? My answer is, both. It is a time bound political marriage of convenience. The Constitution never contemplated a divorce before the effluxion of this time.

    However, those who say the votes belong solely to the candidate even have a weaker argument. The facts of this case and the law in Faleke vs INEC doesn’t support them.

    Let’s look at another fact. Who do we vote for during an election, the candidate or party? In the 2019 Ebonyi State Gubernatorial Election, was it PDP that was voted for or it was David Umahi?

    I invite you to turn to the ballot papers used in that election to find your answer. Find attached ballot papers used in that election. Look at them very well. Have you seen it?

    When we go to vote, we go to vote for parties not candidates. Ballot papers carry the names of political parties, not candidates. Ebonyi people thumb printed beside PDP in the 2019 Gubernatorial Election. The name “David Umahi” was not on the ballot paper. The votes belong to the party.

    This is why the Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC states that: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…” Without the PDP he is nothing, but without him, the PDP still has their votes.

    “… of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…” denotes ownership. No one, who is not “of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”, owners of the votes counted from the ballot papers, could be Governor. Simple.

    The APC has a particular number of votes in that election; not enough to produce a Governor. It is incongruous therefore that anyone claiming to belong to them should be Governor in 2019, or anytime thereafter, before another general election. This is a mockery of our constitutional and partisan democracy.

    It shouldn’t stand.

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • David Umahi: How Defection Invalidates His Certificate Of Return BY FIRST BABA ISA

    David Umahi: How Defection Invalidates His Certificate Of Return BY FIRST BABA ISA

    DAVID UMAHI: HOW DEFECTION INVALIDATES HIS CERTIFICATE OF RETURN

    Find attached the Certificate of Return issued to David Umahi before he was sworn in as Governor.

    Get any certificate of any Governor in Nigeria, or any elected official, let’s have this conversation; please, constantly look at the Certificate of Return as we progress.

    Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, states that “A sealed Certificate of Return at an election in a prescribed form shall be issued within 7 days to every candidate who has won an election under this Act.” See section 72 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

    Without a Certificate of Return there is no evidence that a candidate won an election and he cannot be sworn into office. A Certificate of Return is the gold medal of an election; without it, you can’t lay claim to be a winner.

    Now, let’s look at the Certificate of Return issued to Umahi.

    It says: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…”

    Did you see that?

    “Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…”

    Let’s look at the meaning of the proposition or the word “of”.

    “Of” is used in expressing the relationship between a part and a whole.

    So, the Certificate of Return made it abundantly clear that Nweze David Umahi (is a part) OF Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (the whole)…” One cannot exist without the other in governing Ebonyi State. That’s why the Federal Government led by President Buhari is known as the APC Government. This is how it is all over the world that practise partisan democracy.

    You can never divorce your government from your political party. In fact, the president or governor is the leader of his political party at the Federal or State, respectively.

    When the people voted for you, it was your party’s manifesto, aims, objectives and proposed plans that they voted for. They saw the manifestoes of other political parties but chose yours. You are expected to implement your party’s manifesto as Governor. You can’t convince people to vote for one manifesto and then turn round to defect and adopt another one they rejected at the polls. That’s criminally dishonest.

    Back to the Certificate of Return, a new one has not and cannot be issued to David Umahi after his defection. The only Certificate of Return he holds that empowers him to be Governor of Ebonyi State, is the one that reads: “Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…”

    You cannot hold a Certificate of Return that says you are of the PDP, while you have declared publicly that you have left the PDP. By this singular action, you have invalidated the Certificate of Return, the only document that gives you the power to be Governor.

    As long as David Umahi maintains he has left the PDP, and as long as the only Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC states that: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…”, Umahi cannot continue to be Governor.

    He might be righteous but he has destroyed his foundation. And as the Psalmist lamented in Psalm 11:3, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

    This applies to other Governors, like Ben Ayade of Cross River State, who have also decamped but holding Certificates of Return carrying the name of another political party.

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

  • Is This The End Of David Umahi As Governor? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    Is This The End Of David Umahi As Governor? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    IS THIS END OF DAVID UMAHI AS GOVERNOR?

    We know the facts already. We have read several legal commentaries already. Even if you are not a lawyer, you should be well versed already with the facts and law of this particular case.

    It seems to me that many lawyers are already so certain that the Supreme Court will throw away the judgment of the Federal High Court ordering Governor David Umahi and his deputy to vacate their offices immediately for defecting from the PDP, the party that sponsored them to become Governor and Deputy, to the ruling APC.

    Well, I’m not so sure, and I will point out why, presently.

    1. First, most of the legal commentaries I have read tend to ignore the Supreme Court decision in Yahaya Bello’s case, or at best just gloss over it. But the Supreme Court will certainly not gloss over this decision. Here, the Supreme Court made it abundantly clear that votes belong to a political party. In fact, this principle was so forcefully enunciated that Faleke, the late Audu’s running mate was not allowed to inherit the votes; even when Falake argued strenuously that the votes belonged to the late Audu and himself as candidate and running mate in that election.

    2. The present case has nothing to do with Amechi’s case, a case which has been overtaken by the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010. The Yahaya Bello’s case was decided in 2016 when the Amechi’s scenario was no longer applicable. So, don’t mix up the two. The Supreme Court decided in 2016 that votes belonged to a political party when the Electoral Act was already amended and without recourse to the Amechi’s case. So, the Bello’s case is still good and reliable precedent for the Umahi’s case. I expect the Supreme Court, when it finally gets there, to look at it.

    3. In the case of NWANKWO & ANOR v. INEC & ORS (2019) LPELR-48862(CA) the Court of Appeal held that:
    “… It is trite that it is only a natural person that can be lawfully declared and returned as a winner of an election. The Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) only contemplates the declaration and return of a candidate in an election and not a political party”.

    I agree. But I don’t see how this negates the principle that votes belong to a Political Party. A political party cannot be declared Governor but a natural person nominated by a Political Party will be.

    4. A political party cannot win election as Governor without a natural person and a natural person cannot win election without a political party. It is a political marriage solemnised by the constitution. You cannot forcefully divorce yourself from the marriage and still want to enjoy benefits accruing therefrom. This is the reasoning of the trial judge and it makes a lot of sense.

    Section 177 (c) of the Constitution states clearly that one of the requirements for being qualified to be elected Governor is that a person must be “a member of A political party and is sponsored by THAT political party.”

    You must be sponsored by a political party. “A POLITICAL PARTY”. Not all political parties. So, it is reasonable that once you leave that POLITICAL PARTY that sponsored you to become Governor, you have lost a key aspect of your qualification as Governor and you cannot be properly so called anymore.

    5. A very very heavy weather has been made of the case of AG, Federation v. Atiku Abubakar (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt.1041) 1, 29. But in this case, the issue of who owns the votes cast in an election never came up. This is a new issue and those who think the Supreme Court will blindly follow its decision in AG, Federation v. Atiku Abubakar, might be in for a rude shock.

    This time around, the Supreme Court will not just be looking at the issue of the legality of an elected member of the Executive defecting or cross carpeting but the issue of who owns the votes cast in an election will come to the fore; and if the Supreme Court holds that votes belong to a political party, as they held in the Yahaya Bello’s case, the Law Lords will very likely come to a different conclusion than the one held in Atiku Abubakar’s case; after all, the court held in this same case that defecting is “is painful, unconscionable, and immoral…”

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

    The views expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa Esq and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.