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Atiku Abubabar Can Still Be President By Emmanuel Y. Kwache
It was disgusting to have learnt that a political party was working in concert with a federal agency to import presidential ballot papers with serial numbers from South Africa to be thump-printed and used as a defence at the tribunals. Addressing a press conference recently the Nigerians United for Democracy alleged that plans have reached advanced stage to thump-print the imported ballot papers in a secret place to cover up the glaring lapses encountered during the last general elections.
The duo have planned [the political party and the federal agency] to present same before the tribunals as defence said Alhaji Mohammed Khailani, a chieftain of the Nigerians United for Democracy as reported specifically by Daily Trust Thursday, July 12, 2007, page 2, entitled: NUD alleges importation of ballot papers.
The NUD to this end alerted the law enforcement agencies to police the country’s sea and air ports as well as land borders to intercept the consignment. If perchance, the consignment found its way into the country,thump-print experts should be invited from abroad to examine the ballot papers.The NUD warned the defendants in the presidential election petition to ‘stop playing pranks with the judiciary,either by way of delay tactics or deceit.’
With all these ignominious acts coming up, if the members of the tribunal can keep their heads above fear, above inducement, above greed and graft, , there is likelihood of change before the end of the year. The Action Congress not long ago decided to shun the so-called Unity Government because of visible evidences witnessed and day-light robbery and allocation of votes during the election.
Much more, feelers and feedback from various states indicate Action Congress is on the way to reclaiming its governorship seats in Ekiti,Anambra, Adamawa,Osun, Delta, Edo, Oyo, Gombe,Taraba, Rivers and many more states based on the incontrovertible evidences being presented before different tribunals. Confidence is surfacing in the camps of Action Congress following heaps of evidences gathered so far.That was why the National Executive Council of the party arrived at a decision that the moral,legal and political angles of the elections were heavily manipulated and rigged by the ruling party using the instruments of co-ercion under its control. To be specific about the possibility of Atiku Abubakar becoming President and Commander-in-Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria: A Federal High Court in Yola recently set aside the Federal Government white paper indicting former secretary to the state government,Alhaji Ibrahim Bapetel for corruption.
Bapetel, the Action Congress gubernatorial candidate, was on the of the election disqualified from contesting the governorship by INEC based on the white paper that followed the Ayua Ignatius panel’s report. In his ruling, Justice M.G. Umar, said there was no significant evidence for Bapetel’s indictment. The Court ordered the release of the eight cars confiscated from Bapetel by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as well as his passport and the certificate covering his farmland. Fielding questions from newsmen after the judgment, counsel to Bapetel, Mr. Tayo Jegede, described the ruling as a dispensation of justice and clear testimony of judicial independence. He explained that some of the confiscated cars were official vehicles belonging to the state government that were attached to his office as a serving SSG, while the others belong to him, his wife and friends. Reacting to the judgment, the counsel to the federal government, Mr. Chabki Benny, said government will study the judgement to determine its next line of action. Bapetel was at the election tribunal petition challenging his disqualification and invalidation of his votes INEC in the last April polls.
He is also challenging the return of Admiral Murtala Nyako as the duly elected governor and prayed the court to nullify the election. He also requested the tribunal to order for fresh elections and give him the right to participate in the new election. If more of these scenarios throw up themselves across the various points of the country what stops Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of Action Congress becoming the President, when new fresh elections are ordered.
With the Presidential Election Tribunal which starts this month and pre-trial conference specifically fixed Tuesday 17 July 2007 on the petition filed by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the Action Congress challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Alhaji Umar Yar’adua and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the President and Vice-President-elect, at the April 21, 2007, elections.
The elections were variously dismissed by local and foreign observers as flawed, a charade fraudulent and in fact the worst in the annals of this country’s electoral history. Atiku Abubakar and his counsels are asking the tribunal to invalidate INEC’S declaration of Yar’adua/Goodluck as President because the election that produced them was riddled with corrupt practices, did not comply with the provisions of Electoral Act 2006,and because Umar Yar’adua was not elected by the majority of lawful votes cast at the elections. What else do we need? Our judges have a date with history. There is nothing impossible. Atiku Abubakar could still be President this Year. Don’t doubt it. |