Posted by By Sun News Publishing on
The Action Congress (AC) has warned President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Maurice Iwu and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, not to set the country on fire through their shenanigans on the forthcoming general elections.
The Action Congress (AC) has warned President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Maurice Iwu and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, not to set the country on fire through their shenanigans on the forthcoming general elections.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the AC said that the unlawful and unconstitutional decision to exclude its presidential candidate, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and others, including Dr. Chris Ngige and Mr. Peter Okocha, was aimed at rendering the elections invalid, thus setting the stage for the administration to continue in office against the wishes of Nigerians.
"These people know that one of the grounds under which an election may be questioned is unlawful exclusion of a validly nominated candidate. They know that our candidates are all validly nominated, but they want an election that will be declared null and void in their own interest," the party said.
The AC called on its supporters not to worry about what is happening, while assuring them that all its candidates, including Atiku, will contest the April 14 and 21 polls.
"It is this confidence, arising from our firm belief in the constitution and the judiciary, that has made us to continue with our campaign rallies at all levels. We are supremely confident that our candidates will not only run, but that they will win," the party said.
On the Obasanjo administration's alleged plan to trigger a massive crisis in Nigeria, AC said it was clear to all that everything the Federal Government has done to exclude Atiku and others was done in blatant violation of court orders.
"No one is deceived by the decision to respect the Supreme Court ruling on Ifeanyi Ararume. This is because respect for the judiciary is indivisible. In other words, you cannot pick and choose which court orders to respect and which ones to ignore," the party said.
It expressed a serious concern at the antics of the minister of justice, who, it said, should actually be in the forefront of ensuring that the government complies with court orders and respects the constitution, no matter whose ox is gored.
AC said, for the avoidance of doubt, that the office of the minister of justice was specifically designated by the constitution as the chief legal officer of the nation.
The party explains: "In that position, he owes a duty to law and justice, which should supersede all personal and petty group loyalty.
However, the incumbent, though a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former president of the NBA, has consistently utilized his position to serve the PDP's agenda.
"This posture became glaring when he accepted to serve as chairman of the panel to review the EFCC report against the VP, an action that effectively compromised his role as the chief prosecutor of the federation, who could have instituted a criminal action against the indicted person.
"Having taken a position against the VP, therefore, his interpretation of law and court judgments obviously proceeds from this biased premise. It is no wonder then that his interpretation and advice on this issue are always at variance with that of his colleagues as represented by the NBA.
"The AGF's logic is that since the court decision that cleared Atiku to contest has been appealed against, Atiku stands disqualified. This is like saying that the prisoner must remain in custody since his acquittal is being appealed against. It shifts the onus on the accused person to keep on proving his innocence.
"That cannot be right in law or in logic. A court decision is not reversed by the mere fact of appeal, as a court has to make a definite contrary pronouncement before the decision of a lower court can be overturned.
"The AGF's pronouncement is, therefore, another attempt to reverse or countermand the express order of a competent court. It is a negation of all that his office stands for and must be strongly condemned by all."