By Stellamaries Amuwa, Abuja
The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) has applauded the conduct of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for it dedication and commitment to a transparent process which upholds constitutionalism and due process in Kogi Central.
The Chairman of TMG, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani) while briefing newsmen in Abuja, commended the conduct of a transparent step by step process in the exercise up to the counting of the signatures collected from Kogi Central, adding that it is worth noting that the entire efforts from the onset had been a mere charade and an aberration of section 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He said this is a clear demonstration of the functionality of democracy when democratic nations uphold the rule of law rather than becoming tools for the alignment of political interests of a few people in power. He said TMG is very interested in how more than 50% of total registered voters in Kog Central quickly turned up to sign the petition for the recall of a lawmaker in a country that has historically experienced a worrisome level of voter apathy.
According to him, this occurrence calls for deeper insight that can only be brought about through thorough investigation. “Transition Monitoring Group has observed keenly the events involving the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan and the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpobso While the events have been an embarrassment to the people of Nigeria, and a depiction of the leadership of the country in very bad light, the manner and speed with which it snowballed into an attempt to recall Senator Natasha is, without mincing words, an apparent display of desperation on the part of some so-called political gladiators to completely silent Senator Natasha.
“For every well-meaning Nigerians, this is the point where it is no longer a case of recurring disagreement among colleagues but a need to thoroughly investigate allegations of sexual harassments, abuse of power and a trampling on her right to perform and carry out her duties as a senator. While it is noted that INEC has terminated the process at the stage of counting signatories to the petition as the number of signatories did not meet the constitutional requirements for further verification, the seeming fraud of harvesting voters’ details from anywhere to file the petition cannot be overlooked.
“We are also deeply worried that against the provision of the Data Protection Act, personal data of citizens of Kogi Central Senatorial District has been harvested and used without their consent. This fraud must be investigated by the National Data Protection Commission to assure Nigerians that their personal data will indeed be protected as envisaged by the law. Further investigations to verify and authenticate the Voter Identification Number (VIN) through the BVAS must be carried out. Where investigations reveal a fraudulent process, the petitioners must be brought to justice to serve as deterrent to those who would be willing to be induced and used by politicians for this kind of charade in the future
“In the eyes of Nigerians, the attempt to recall Senator Natasha was an attempt to silence her and undermine the choice of the electorates in Kogi Central amidst the rift with the Senate President.
In all of these, the people of the senatorial district who freely gave her the mandate to represent them in the Senate have remained resolute against every attempt to silent their senator. TMG insists that thorough investigations over the allegations against the Senate President must be carried out as those allegations are too weighty to be swept under the carpet.
“Let it be clear that TMG holds no reservation if the Senate agrees to discipline a member for disobeying the rules and procedures of the Senate. However, the ensuing allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of power and a trampling on the right to perform legislative functions must be treated separately as all senators are equally elected by their respective constituents.
” The leadership of the Senate must recognize the huge gender imbalance in the Senate and not continue to present itself as a misogynist institution against one of the few women in the 10th Senate,” he said.
