9th Assembly: Arewa forum tells Senators, Reps how to elect next principal officers

NEWS

9th Assembly: Arewa forum tells Senators, Reps how to elect next principal officers

 

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has urged members of the incoming 9th National Assembly to elect leaders of their choice as principal officers.

ACF said members of the parliament should ensure that those to be elected meet the basic criteria.

The body stated this in a statement issued in Kaduna State and signed by its National Publicity, Mohammed Ibrahim Biu.

ACF stressed that member of the incoming National Assembly should be guided by the fact that “democracy is a majority rule in which the political party with the electoral mandate is held accountable.

“Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) therefore urges Senators and Members-elect that in exercising their rights to elect officers of their choice, certain attributes like legislative capacity and experience, amiability, track record of selfless service, integrity, compassion of the candidates and above all loyalty to their political parties, which manifestos are used for securing the electoral mandate needed for implementation, should guide them in making the best choice.

“Election of Principal Officers of the 9th National Assembly is the exclusive rights and prerogative of Senators and Members elect of the National Assembly. However, the political parties that provided the platform for them to be elected also have a role in choosing those to superintend over the affairs of the National Assembly for the purpose of ensuring good coordination with the Executive that are needed for delivering on the promise of democracy.

“More so democracy is a majority rule in which the political party with the electoral mandate is held accountable and the minority party is expected to be a viable alternative platform for the electorate, considering that democracy without a viable opposition is spurious.

“It should however be noted that multiparty democracy impels progress through change that comes with robust debates on issues of real concern to ordinary citizens.”

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Abia APC: Court sacks Martin Apugo as APC candidate

POLITICS

Abia APC: Court sacks Martin Apugo as APC candidate

 

A Justice Daniel Osiagor-led Federal High Court in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, has sacked Ikechukwu Martins Apugo, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency in the just-concluded 2019 National Assembly election in the state.

Justice Osiagor ruled in favour of a pre-election suit filed by former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and one of the APC aspirants in the 2018 primary election, Rt. Hon. Stanley Ohazuruka, challenging the eligibility of Apugo.

Reading his judgment, Justice Osiagor said, “APC law says that it is only the Collation Officer that can announce the results of the primary election. That the announcement must be made in Abuja, after collating the results. The collation officer testified as The Plaintiff’s Witness as (PW1), telling the court that any other documents that any person brings or will bring to the court as per the results is fake.

“After testifying, the plaintiff’s witness could not tender any original result sheets signed by him and the APC National Chairman as result for Ohazuruka. That after collation of the results, the secretary of APC collated and announced the result here in Umuahia. It contradicted the evidence act and APC law. INEC could not prove that Apugo won the primary election.

“The law deemed it very fit and necessary that primary election does not correspond with the electoral act 2010 as amended. On this ground, the primary election is hereby annulled. The party (APC) should conduct fresh primary election in Umuahia South constituency, so that, substantive candidate will emerge.”

Reacting in an interview with newsmen shortly after the judgment on Tuesday at the court premises, Apugo faulted the position of the Justice Osiagor-led tribunal, cancelling the primaries.

Apugo said, “The judge did it just to say he gave judgment. So, we are still where we are. And again, I heard that he said, he is nullifying the primaries. How can he deliver judgment? Nobody ask him to nullify primary election.

“The people that brought the matter to the court did not ask for nullification; including me. What we want is either declare this person winner or the other person winner of the primaries. And you did not declare anybody the winner; he (judge) said he annulled primary election. So, what does it mean? That means it is neither here and there.”

Recall that Ohajuruka had dragged Apugo to court over the outcome of the primary election.

Ohajuruka had asked the court to declare him the winner of the October 5 2018 primaries of the APC following the excessive rigging that marred the exercise.

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