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INEC Commissioner nominee, Gumus exposed, as he’s a card carrying member of APC [Photo]
Trouble looms for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Commissioner nominee, Prof. Rhoda Gumus as the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has delivered a petition to the National Assembly alleging that she ‘is a card carrying member of the ruling All progressives Congress (APC).’
HURIWA in a petition dated 26 of January 2022 and signed by its national coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, addressed to the Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, said Prof. Gumus nomination was in breach of the 1999 constitution as amended and the Electoral Act.
The rights group, however enjoined the leadership of the National Assembly to outrightly reject Gumus nomination in the interest of the country.
The rights group warned the National Assembly to guard against the confirmation of Gumus so as not to set the stage for a very huge political crisis, which is capable of derailing the country’s democratic process.
HURIWA said: “We have uncovered material evidence (copies attached) revealing that Prof. Rhoda H. Gumus; INEC National Commissioner nominee for Bayelsa State, South South is a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and by confirming her as a National Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), tasked with the mandate to conduct elections in Nigeria wherein the All Progressives Congress will participate.
“Sir, research and experience has shown that one of the factors that have compromised the credibility of elections in Nigeria is said to be the lack of structural independence of INEC. This was one of the main issues taken up by the Electoral Reform Committee in 2007.
“You would recall that among the recommendations that the Committee made was the necessity for guaranteeing the independence of INEC, both through the way that the Commission is funded and through the appointment process for its members.
“Beyond this, Prof. Gumus’ confirmation by this 9th Senate will be a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution specifically declares that appointees to the electoral body must be non-partisan and also not a card-carrying member of any political party.
“Specifically, Section 14(2a) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution as amended states that “a member of the commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.
“And Section 14(3b) of the same Schedule states that “there shall be for each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, a Resident Electoral Commissioner who shall be a person of unquestionable integrity and shall not be a member of any political party.” This, however, directly applies to members appointed as Resident Electoral Commissioners.
“While preceding paragraphs empowers the president to make appointments and the Senate to make confirmations, 3b, demands that the integrity of an appointee must not be in question.
“More so, Section 152 of the Electoral Act, provides that; “No person holding an elective office to which this act relates or a registered member of a Political Party shall be eligible for or be appointed to carry out duties of a returning officer, an electoral officer, presiding officer or Poll Clerk.
“The interpretation of these Sections of the law raises questions as to whether it was considered before the nomination of Prof. Gumu was made. As a card carrying member of the ruling party or any other party for that matter, Prof Rhoda H. Gumus is unfit for the position she is nominated for, a role reserved for an unbiased umpire.
“Hence, confirming the nomination of Rhoda Gumus as a National Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission would constitute a direct violence against the relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the independency of INEC, the Senate is hereby called upon to reject this nomination.
“Let it be on record that we are neither in any way against the person of Prof. Rhoda Gumus nor questioning her integrity. Rather our concern is for the Senate to ensure that any such appointment capable of derogating from the impartiality of INEC is never made. As such, the senate should see it as a concern that when constituting an umpire for elections, anything that can diminish public confidence in INEC must be avoided.
“Consequently, the Senate, if it’s really made up of democrats, is called upon to reject this nomination or we will be left with no other option but to rally Nigerians to pour out on the streets to protest this brazen illegality to demolish constitutional democracy through insider political compromises.
“Additionally, we are calling on the Nigerian Senate to investigate all of the other nominations by the President especially as there are concerns that some of these nominations may have been by self-serving interests.
“We insist that it is never late to deal with any electoral commissioner who presents a likelihood of bias as it is important for Nigeria that the composition of INEC is transparently non-partisan and independent of partisan political manipulation.”
Six Commissioners and a Local Government Council Chairman have been arrested on the order of the Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr Francis Nwifuru over alleged breach of contracts.
The Chairman Afikpo Local Government Area, Mr. Timothy Nwachi, was suspended from office with immediate effect.
Reports said, the Commissioners were accused of contractual breach in the ongoing construction of 140 housing units for the Izzo and Amaze communities, which were displaced by the Ezilo/Ezza Ezilo communal crisis in Ishielu Local Government Area.
The names of embattled Commissioners are: Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education), Victor Chukwu (Environment), Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism), Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters), Moses Ekuma (Health), and Felix Igboke (Project Monitoring).
They were first declared wanted following their disappearance from the State Executive Committee meeting when the matter became known in the media, and the Ebonyi State immediately launched manhunt before they were eventually arrested.
Commenting on the development, Ilang Donatus, Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on the Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, stated that the action was taken due to the officials’ and contractors’ failure to adhere to contract terms.
Donatus noted that the officials are delaying the housing project, which Governor Nwifuru had planned to commission in celebration of his second anniversary in office.
Donatus emphasised the governor’s frustration over the slow pace of construction, noting that the housing initiative was designed to provide relief to victims of communal crises.
He was quoted as saying, “The governor is not happy over the pace of the work, which ought to have been completed. The government has decided to clamp down on the contractors and commissioners who were mandated to supervise those projects.
“As you can see, our governor is a man with a passionate heart, he likes giving succour, hence the building of those houses for the victims of the communal crisis. He is not happy that the project is delayed and has ordered to arrest of all the commissioners who are supposed to ensure the speedy completion of the housing units.
Adding to the concerns, Mrs. Maria Okohu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilization (Ebonyi Central) and a member of the Executive Council Committee, described the situation as an act of sabotage.
She stressed that failure to complete the housing project on schedule undermines the governor’s development agenda for the state.
In response, the state government has vowed to continue its crackdown, warning that further arrests will be made until all implicated commissioners and contractors are held accountable.
Reports also suggest that the Nigerian police have issued invitations to several officials who were not present during the committee’s enforcement visits.
Upon inquiry, Ebonyi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, stated that he had no knowledge of the arrest or detention of the accused commissioners and the suspended council chairman.
When questioned about whether the Command had invited the officials following the governor’s directive, the police spokesperson responded, “We don’t have any commissioner in our custody. I’m not aware of any invitation and I have asked and I was told we don’t have any commissioner in custody. I will still ask about the invitation but for now, I don’t know anything of such.”
News
Ododo’s aide escapes assassination by whiskers, allege APC youth leader, Mohammed behind attempt
Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo’s Aide, Hon. Godfrey Adekoye, Senior Special Assistant on Youths Empowerment on Tuesday escaped an assassination attempt on his life by whiskers.
The aide of the Governor said the attack on his life happened at Lounge 1, a popular hospitality joint in Lokoja, added that the attackers followed him down to his house, unfortunately they met his absence.
In a statement he made available to CAPITAL POST in Lokoja, the aide to the Governor accused the Kogi State APC Youth Leader, Hon. Mohammed U Mohammed and one Abubakar Nasara Ola as behind his attack.
He said during the attack on him, Abubakar threatened to kill him, pointed a gun at him before the intervention of onlookers who saved him by chance.
The attackers destroyed and broke the windscreen of his vehicle, that is now parked in the custody of the Quick Response Squad.
Speaking on the attack, Hon. Godfrey said he has since reported the matter to the Quick Response Squad, an arm of the Nigerian Police, in Lokoja, said his life is in danger.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Williams Ayah, said he was making efforts to confirm the attack on the aide, could not be reached as at time of going to press.
A popular General Overseer of a new generation Church, Elijah has been arrested by the Octopus (C41) Strike Force unit of Rivers State Police Command for investigation over homosexual allegations.
It was gathered that a video of the Pastor was leaked indulging in the homosexual act to the police by a member of his church.
The member who alleged that the General Overseer attempted sleep with him against his will.
The member who revealed his name simply as Patrick now a complainant said, he wanted to play along after the General Overseer made sexual advancement and captured the nude video of pastor attempting to have carnal knowledge of him.
Armed with the intelligence report, the police traced the General Overseer who is from Rivers State to one of his relaxation spots in Port Harcourt and arrested him.
Sources revealed to our correspondent that the General Overseer has reportedly confessed to other numerous acts of homosexuality involving both male adults and minors within and outside Port Harcourt.
Public Relations Officer for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing.
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