The Centre for Fact and Justice, CTJ, has strongly condemned the current Native Authorities elections in Rivers State.
The group alleged that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s actions undermined the democratic course of, violating each precept that Nigeria stands for.
Talking at a press convention in Abuja, Government Director, Obinna Francis, stated the elections have been carried out with out transparency, accountability, or legitimacy, and have been as an alternative a coronation of Governor Fubara’s puppets.
Mr Francis additionally highlighted Governor Fubara’s disregard for the regulation, together with his unilateral suspension of members of the Rivers State Home of Meeting and set up of a three-man committee to operate because the state meeting.
The CTJ additional criticized Governor Fubara’s use of proxy events to advance his political agenda and the involvement of RSIEC within the illegitimate course of.
“We condemn in totality the charade, mockery, and the whole abuse of our democratic course of by the purported conduct of Native Authorities (LG) elections in Rivers State,” Francis stated.
“What transpired in Rivers State is a travesty of democracy, an affront to the desire of the folks, and a direct assault on the rule of regulation. The so-called election that came about throughout the confines of the Authorities Home just isn’t solely an unlawful act but additionally a violation of each democratic precept that this nation stands for.
“Furthermore, the actions of Governor Fubara are a harmful precedent that threatens the very material of our democracy. Nigerians can now perceive clearly that Governor Fubara is able to destroy no matter is left of our democracy if he’s not urgently known as to order.
“Evidently, probably the most alarming points of Governor Fubara’s tenure has been his unilateral suspension of members of the Rivers State Home of Meeting utilizing kangaroo court docket orders. In defiance of legislative autonomy and the separation of powers, Governor Fubara has put in a three-man committee to operate because the state meeting.
“This unlawful construction is a mockery of the democratic course of, and we should all ask ourselves what sort of state operates with out a respectable legislature. The reply is evident: a dictatorship. Moreover, Governor Fubara’s disregard for the regulation extends to the current conduct of a sham LG election in Rivers State.
“The election, which was carried out throughout the Authorities Home, is a humiliation to the state and the nation as a complete.
“This course of lacked transparency, accountability, and legitimacy. There have been no observers, no real electoral oversight, and no alternative for the folks of Rivers State to make their voices heard. As a substitute, it was a coronation, not an election—a course of aimed toward putting in Governor Fubara’s puppets in key positions of energy throughout the state.
“It’s pertinent to say {that a} judgment from a Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja had already restrained the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) from releasing voters’ registers to the Rivers State Unbiased Electoral Fee (RSIEC).
“But, in typical style, Governor Fubara obtained a questionable court docket order to override this judgment, demonstrating his utter contempt for the judiciary and the rule of regulation.
“Therefore, the involvement of RSIEC on this illegitimate course of raises severe issues in regards to the impartiality and independence of the electoral physique.
“Fairly than upholding the sanctity of the electoral course of, RSIEC has turn into a instrument in Governor Fubara’s fingers to control elections and set up his loyalists in workplace.
“This flagrant abuse of energy should be addressed if we’re to protect the integrity of future elections in Rivers State and Nigeria at massive.
“Moreover, Governor Fubara’s manipulation of the election course of prolonged to the usage of proxy events to advance his political agenda.
“The so-called Motion Peoples Celebration (APP), a comparatively unknown political entity, conveniently “received” 22 out of 23 chairmanship seats within the Rivers State LG elections.
“This consequence, which defies all logic and understanding, is the end result of a extremely orchestrated and manipulated electoral course of aimed toward securing Governor Fubara’s dominance over native authorities constructions within the state.
“It’s subsequently heartbreaking that regardless of all these obvious irregularities, the state authorities and RSIEC have boldly declared the election to be clean, protected, free, truthful, credible, clear, and violence-free.
“Evidently, Governor Fubara’s actions aren’t these of a democratic chief however of an autocrat intent on consolidating energy on the expense of the folks’s will.
“Democracy is our collective asset, and its development and progress are depending on a authorities’s dedication to upholding the rule of regulation and pursuing the pursuits of peace and justice always.”
The group known as on related authorities, together with the Nationwide Meeting, judiciary, and worldwide neighborhood, to intervene and restore the rule of regulation in Rivers State.
The CTJ urged Nigerians to stay vigilant and defend democracy, emphasizing that the actions of Governor Fubara threaten the democratic progress made as a nation.
Mr Francis added: “The abuse of energy by Governor Fubara and his enablers should not go unchecked. The rule of regulation should be restored, and the democratic rights of the folks of Rivers State should be protected.
“If left unchallenged, the actions of Governor Fubara will set a harmful precedent for different state governors to comply with, resulting in the entire erosion of democratic governance in Nigeria.
“Furthermore, the CTJ urges the judiciary to revisit the sham court docket orders which have enabled Governor Fubara’s unlawful actions. It’s crucial that the courts restore their integrity by making certain that justice is served, and that Governor Fubara is held accountable for his actions.
“The judiciary should stand agency because the final bastion of hope for the oppressed and the disenfranchised in Rivers State and throughout the nation.”
