.jpeg "Judgement: HURIWA calls for an ICPC investigation as Governor Sule prepares an appeal")
HURIWA, through its national coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, has expressed profound apprehension regarding allegations indicating that Governor Sule may be utilizing the state's financial resources to support his continued legal endeavors aimed at contesting the tribunal's decision.
The aforementioned ruling definitively acknowledged David Ombugadu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the legitimate victor of the highly disputed governorship election held on March 18 in Nasarawa State. Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, presiding over the tribunal, concluded that Ombugadu presented compelling evidence indicating that the election results were rigged in favor of the APC and that he had garnered the majority of genuine votes.
HURIWA recognizes the governor's prerogative to pursue an appeal in response to the decision. However, it cautions against the potential misallocation of public resources for financing the appeal and advises Governor Sule against further depleting the state's financial reserves by supporting a potentially futile legal recourse. However, the organization urged him to demonstrate respect for the tribunal's decision and defend the fundamental tenets of democracy.
HURIWA underscored the significance of refraining from the misappropriation of public funds for personal political conflicts, as it constitutes a manifestation of corruption that erodes the fundamental tenets of effective government and accountability. These activities constitute a significant breach of the fundamental norms of democratic governance and ethical behavior, hence presenting a direct menace to the democratic system of Nigeria and its core values of honesty and accountability.
In light of these significant concerns, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Independent and Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to promptly and comprehensively investigate Governor Sule's financial transactions and the allocation of public resources by his administration. The organization emphasizes that the purpose of this investigation is to ascertain whether state funds have been redirected to support the governor's legal campaign, and to undertake necessary measures if any misconduct is discovered.
In addition, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has advocated for substantial electoral changes as a means to effectively tackle the problem of litigation that arises from electoral processes.
The organization said that the existing practice, which permits incumbent governors to utilize state resources for legal challenges to election outcomes, poses a threat to the democratic process and has the potential to facilitate the misuse of state funds.
HURIWA concurred with the perspectives put out by legal authorities, including retired Justice Peter Ige of the Court of Appeal, advocating for a reformation of the electoral process to guarantee the resolution of all legal challenges pertaining to elections prior to the inauguration of the victors. According to the rights group, this measure would facilitate the establishment of a more open and responsible voting system. The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) proposed the temporary transfer of power by incumbents.
During the resolution of election-related lawsuits, Chief Justices or Chief Judges, in the context of state governors, hold significant authority.
Justice Ige asserts that it would be mutually advantageous for all parties involved in the electoral process and adjudication to resolve post-election concerns prior to the inauguration of the winners. Additionally, he expressed the view that it is imperative to resolve pre-election issues prior to the commencement of the general elections.
Furthermore, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) proposed a two-tiered strategy for managing election disputes. Under this method, the governorship and presidential elections would be exclusively adjudicated by the Appeal Court and Supreme Court. On the other hand, other election-related issues would be decided at regular tribunals, culminating at the Appeal Court.
The group concluded by highlighting the imperative of implementing these reforms in order to foster equity, accountability, and adherence to legal principles in Nigeria's electoral procedures. Additionally, they urged the relevant authorities, such as the National Assembly, to carefully deliberate and adopt these reforms to fortify the country's democratic system and deter the inappropriate utilization of public resources for personal political advantage.
HURIWA referenced the viewpoint of an observer whose stance was extensively discussed among numerous voters engaged by a team from HURIWA, which was integrated with accredited observers and reporters during the election. This knowledgeable observer asserted that Hon. David Ombugadu, the gubernatorial candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, effectively refuted the manipulated outcomes announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Lafia Local Council, thereby substantiating his victory in the March 18 governorship election as declared by the State governorship elections petitions tribunal on Monday.