Jigawa State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Muhammad Lawal Bashar
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Few weeks after the appointment of Professor Muhammad Lawal Bashar as Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Jigawa State, a Coalition of Civil Society group have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack him for being a card carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Prof. Lawal Bashar, an indigene of Sokoto State had contested governorship and was actively involved in political activities of his home State before his appointment against the provisions that anyone to be appointed as INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner must be apolitical.
In a petition addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and copies made available to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Department of State Security (DSS) and other relevant bodies by the Coalition operating under the aegis of Society Watch and National Peace Campaign, they maintained Prof. Lawal Bashar should be sacked as Jigawa REC in the interest of fairness.
Copy of the petition which was signed by the National Coordinator of Society Watch, Desmond Ebireri and Valentine Opaluwa of the National Peace Campaign and sighted by our correspondent in Abuja, said the appointment of Prof. Muhammad Lawal Bashar was in clear breach of provisions of the Constitution and the National Electoral Act as amended.
Part of the petition read: “Specifically, Prof. Muhammad Lawal had contested Sokoto State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress and was a former Special Adviser to the then Sokoto State governor, Senator Magatakarda Wammako in 2019.
“Hence, he was actively involved in political activities in Sokoto State having participated in political meetings, rallies and conventions up till the time he was erroneously nominated as Resident Electoral Commissioner representing Sokoto State slot by President Muhammadu Buhari.”
The Coalition stressed that Lawal’s nomination and confirmation in view of his obvious partisanship was a grave mistake and was injurious to the provisions of laws, noting that if he wasn’t sacked, it would endanger the nation’s quest for credible and for election.
“Your Excellency, Prof. Lawal’s nomination, confirmation by the Nigerian Senate and his subsequent posting to Jigawa State in the Northwest, undoubtedly, a violation of Section 14(2a) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution which provides that “a member of the Independent National Electoral Commission shall be non-partisan and a person of unquestionable integrity.
“This petition is to draw your attention to the absurdities for quick intervention and immediately sack the Resident Electoral Commissioner in charge of Jigawa State.
“The Nigerian Senate, particularly Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headed by Senator Kabir Gaya representing Kano South Senatorial district, which confirmed Prof. Lawal was not fair to the provisions of law.
“The security report which we believed was diligently carried out indicted Professor Lawal as a card carrying member of APC. He is on the APC register in his ward and an active politician who is interested in the office of Governor of Sokoto State.”
According to the petition, Jigawa REC’s involvement in politics was in the public domain and was widely publicised in the Sun Newspapers of 16th May, 2019 and other mainstream media platforms, adding that misgivings have been growing in the State since the REC resumed last week.
The petitoner averred further that the demand for the sack of Jigawa REC was at the backdrop of President Buhari’s commitment to a free and fair election before leaving office on May 29, 2023.
“The commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in conducting a free, fair and credible election, particularly as he round-off his second tenure of office on May 29, 2023 was the introduction of BVAS and IReV, hence, anyone who is involved in a strategic INEC office as Resident Electoral Commissioner need to be apolitical.
“The assumption of duty of Professor Lawal on 7th November, 2022, in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital was received with mixed feelings with electorate wondering what has become of INEC Act that people who are non partisan shall be the ones appointed to serve as INEC officials.
“Moreso, other opposition political parties are currently casting doubt as to whether they would be free, fair and credible election. The people of Jigawa are allaying fears that the State REC might be sympathetic to its party, the APC.”
According to the Coalition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is popular and a strong opposition in Jigawa State, hence, nothing should be done to undermine the electorate’s wish as the general election draw close.
“Your Excellency, our demand for the sack of Jigawa REC is aimed at nipping in the bud, anything that would be tantamount to the Global best practices in the conduct of election, particularly that the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Governorship candidate, Mustapha Sule Lamido may have over ninety percent of the people supporting them in Jigawa State.
The appointment of Professor Muhammad Lawal Bashar as REC for Jigawa State will significantly undermine the neutrality and impartiality of the INEC and it will create mistrust in INEC and Nigeria’s electoral process.
Meanwhile, it’s recalled that billboards of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Hadejia Local Government Council were destroyed by thugs allegedly loyal to the All Progressives Congress.
