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'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has called on the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) to proceed with the scheduled local government elections this Saturday, despite ongoing legal disputes and conflicting court injunctions aimed at halting the process. Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, the National Chairman of ZLP, issued a firm warning during a press conference, emphasizing that no legal obstacles should prevent the election from taking place.
Nwanyanwu expressed frustration over what he described as attempts by certain individuals with selfish ambitions to derail the election through court actions. "Somebody from somewhere, due to his own selfish ambition and interest, will sponsor people to stop an election that the law says you can't stop," Nwanyanwu remarked. He criticized judges for granting injunctions that conflict with established legal principles, pointing out that the law clearly prohibits stopping elections conducted by SIEC or INEC.
Nwanyanwu also warned SIEC against postponing the elections, noting that his party and others have invested significant resources in campaigning. "We will go to court because we have spent a lot of money," he declared, stressing that SIEC would face legal action to recover the costs and inconveniences caused by any unnecessary delay. "Heaven will not fall if the election holds as planned," he asserted, urging the electoral body to act within the law and move forward with the elections.
The ZLP leader argued that those working to prevent the election from taking place were doing so out of fear of losing at the polls. According to him, these individuals are desperate for political structures that have already failed them, and their legal maneuvers are merely an attempt to disrupt the democratic process.
Addressing concerns that the headquarters of Rivers SIEC had been sealed off by security operatives, Nwanyanwu clarified the situation, citing reports from his party in Rivers State. He explained that the state government had received intelligence suggesting a potential bomb attack on the SIEC office, which led to increased security measures. However, he firmly stated that security forces have no authority to shut down the electoral commission’s operations. Their role, he emphasized, is to protect the integrity of the election process, not to obstruct it.
Nwanyanwu further discussed the conflicting court injunctions that have caused confusion regarding the elections. He explained that the plaintiffs opposing the election claim that insufficient notice was given, despite ZLP and other political parties having received notices as early as July. He questioned the legitimacy of the complaints, asserting that those who should be contesting the election are the political parties themselves, not individuals or groups with no real stake in the process.
"The law is clear: no one can stop an election from holding," Nwanyanwu said, adding that any disputes can be resolved after the election, as was the case in past legal battles involving political figures like Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi. He emphasized that the judiciary has a responsibility to handle political cases with the same professionalism and integrity it applies to other legal matters, such as company or matrimonial law.
Nwanyanwu criticized the ethical decline among members of the legal profession, particularly in political cases. He revealed that ZLP is preparing a letter to the newly elected president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to address the growing issue of "jankara" lawyers—those who engage in unethical practices to manipulate the legal system for personal gain.
"The new CJN will show them," Nwanyanwu said, expressing confidence in the Chief Justice’s ability to tackle corruption within the judiciary. He called for the decisive punishment of lawyers and judges involved in unethical behavior, including possible disbarment for those found guilty of manipulating political cases for financial gain. Nwanyanwu warned that if the situation is not addressed soon, Nigerians may begin publicly calling out corrupt judges by name, further eroding public trust in the judiciary.
In conclusion, the Zenith Labour Party remains resolute in its demand that the Rivers SIEC proceed with Saturday’s elections without delay. Nwanyanwu’s remarks reflect a broader concern about the integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary and the need for urgent reforms to restore public confidence. As political tension continues to rise in Rivers State, ZLP’s position underscores the importance of maintaining democratic processes and ensuring that legal obstacles do not stand in the way of free and fair elections.
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