….Our Eyes Are on the Kano Central Judgement being expected-Amb.Okereke
By George Mgbeleke
A group on the platform of African Parliamentary Advocates and Reform Groups (APARG) in collaboration with Parliamentary Advocates and Democratic/ Democracy Consolidation Nigeria(CoPADeCoN) noted with regret media apathy in the coverage of National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in parts of the country.
Speaking at a media briefing by the African Parliamentary Advocates and Reform Groups/ Democratic Consolidation Coalition of Nigeria, the co-ordinator, Amb. Chibuzo Okereke lamented that about 50 percent of the 469 seats in the National Assembly being challenged in the Election Petitions Tribunal, the media fails to let Nigerians know outcome of the proceedings.
According to Okereke,”The Democratic Consolidation Coalition Nigeria has once again observed and is concerned about what again appears to be an untended suppression and low interest of the major media organizations in the proceedings of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals.
“Whereas the various flagship platforms of major media organizations are daily saturated with the reportage of the proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunals, little or no attention has been channeled toward the interesting and intriguing proceedings that have characterized the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunals.
“The fourth estate of the realm which is the media saddled with the responsibility of setting the agenda, enlightening the public, and obligation of accountability of the government to the people has unfortunately not shown the required interest in the coverage of the proceedings of the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals. We are deeply worried that the paucity of publicity of the major media coverage of the Legislative Election Petition Tribunals and by extension the oversight of the Judiciary may have serious implications if not urgently addressed.”
Continuing he said,”As we have pointed out, today, the media is heavily a washed with the trends and the developments in the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and discussions and engagements among citizens on its proceedings while the Legislatures Tribunal Matters are barely even reported especially the petitions that are now being concluded and awaiting judgments.
“Prominent among the cases in this category is the Kano Central Senatorial district petition, among others which is now set for judgment by July 24th, 2023. Kano Central is about the largest Senatorial District in Nigeria and the only Senatorial District in the 2023 General Elections where the person returned as the winner by INEC relinquished the victory after the declaration on the grounds that he had resigned his Membership of the Party that Sponsored him as the candidate before the election, at the time also, the window for candidates replacement/substitution has elapsed in accordance with the relevant extant provisions of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2022 and the INEC 2023 General Elections Guidelines.
“But following INEC concerns, challenging of the matter in court, and eventual Supreme Court Ruling, a certificate of return was issued to another Member of the Party. The Kano Central Election Petition is a litmus test to the Judiciary in terms of procedure and the extant provisions of Nigeria’s electoral governance laws and framework. Our Eyes Are on the Kano Central Judgement being expected.
“These and more are what have made the Kano Central Senatorial District Tribunal Case unique and intriguing as it presents an observable lacuna in the much-celebrated 2022 Electoral law. But more importantly, it is a litmus test for the judiciary and judges saddled with that responsibility in line with the prescriptions and predictions of section 285 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, Electoral Guidelines, and the point of law. We believe this should agitate the minds of all promoters and defenders of democracy that is based on the rule of law. “
The co-ordinator further noted,”For us at the CoPADeCoN, at a time when the notion, ideals, and practices of democracy have come under great stress in the past decade. We believe that the legislature, judiciary, media, and active citizens have the utmost responsibility to continue to demonstrate resilience in ways and means that promote transparency, accountability, an equitable and responsible show of duty of care by all State and non-state actors in solidarity with the prevailing ideals of democracy.
“Democracy is about the process which confers legitimacy based on constitutionalism.
We use this opportunity therefore, to call on all watchdog institutions of governments, particularly the Media to retool the approach to Election Petition Reportage in Nigeria and ensure commensurate attention to the Legislative Election Petition Proceedings not just because the legislature is as important if not more important arm of fun the government but also the fact that the work of the media provides critical oversight on the Judiciary and complementarity efforts in the strive for democracy consolidation in Nigeria.”
