Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Duro Meseko says the most benevolent military rule is no match to the worst civilian rule.Meseko who spoke to reporters in Abuja expressed concern over the scourge of military coups in the West Africa sub-region

.He maintained that while most of the military interventions were as a result of bad leadership and sit tight in the affected countries, forceful take over of power is not a solution.

The Kogi state born politician however ruled out the possibility of the return to military rule in Nigeria.

According to him: “Yes, am worried about the scourge of military coups again particularly in some West African countries. I had thought that this era is gone and gone for good. For me it is not a good development at all.

” However, let me say this that in some of the countries where we have this military intervention, some members of the political class may not have done well but to take over government forcefully is not the solution and those rejoicing at such will soon begin to cry.

“Some of those leaders swore to oath of office that they have not kept. Some are changing constitutions to accommodate their personal whims and caprices. Some swore to an oath of 8 years but they end up spending like 20 years or more.

“However, in the case of Nigeria, as you have asked whether I harbor such a fear in Nigeria and let me say that I don’t have such fears for Nigeria because since 1999, no government in Nigeria has tried to go beyond the constitutionally stipulated term in office.

“Even under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, when the Third Term was tried, it failed and failed woefully. Assuming we have such a government that is going beyond its constitutionally stipulated term, of course there would be tension and such a fears may arise.

“The coups de’tats now ravaging the continent are worrisome and that is why the political class in African countries must sit up to the realities of the moment in ensuring that they stick to the oath they swore to and stand by those constitutional limits of their tenure in office.

“If they don’t do that, the result is what we are seeing all over now. As the saying goes that the most benevolent military rule is no match to the worst civilian rule. Because under military rule, all your rights are curtailed, the constitution is suspended and you don’t have the right to say ahh this is wrong.

” You are clamped into detention or you are killed. But under democracy, you can shout, you can protest, you can make your feelings known and your freedom is guaranteed.

“Am sure very soon those running around the streets and celebrating the military takeover in those countries, they will soon realize that it is a very wrong decision.”

Ahead of the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgement in the state, over 1,000 women from various religious assemblies across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, yesterday held a prayer rally for peace and God-fearing judgement in the state.

The women said they were gathered to cry to God in prayer for divine intervention for justice to be done so that peace can reign in the state. They also prayed for justice for the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Dr. David Ombugadu whom they alleged, was voted massively in the March 18 election in the state

The women dressed in black attires rendered emotional songs in Hausa, carrying placards with several inscriptions during the rally, have held series of prayers asking God to intervene and deliver the state from hostages and injustices.

Speaking shortly after the prayer session in Lafia, the leaders of Nasarawa Women Coalition for Justice, Hanatu John, explained that the reasons for the rally was to seek the face God in the case involving Dr. Ombugadu of PDP and Governor Sule of APC.

Hanatu who expressed confidence that God will not fail the aged women in their prayers under the scorching sun, will give wisdom and courage to the judges presiding over the Nasarawa governorship tribunal to deliver judgement with the fear of God.

“All residents of the state including members of the All Progressives Congress are aware that the PDP candidate, Dr. David Ombugadu won the March 18, 2023 election, not the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Sule, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“These women you see here are over 1,000 in number cutting across various faith. They voluntarily came out from all parts of the state to pray for the person residents of the state gave their mandate to because they are tired of the APC led government. They no longer want to be deceived, that is why they are all gathered here today in solidarity with the PDP.

It would be recalled that Dr. Ombugadu had dragged Governor Abdullahi Sule to court after the declaration of Abdullahi Sule as the winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.

Ahead of the Bayelsa State governorship election slated for November 11, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, strong indications have emerged that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Timpre Sylva and his running-mate, Joshua Maciver, risk disqualification.

This was disclosed on the heels of a suit filed against the defendants, Sylva, Maciver, and INEC, by the plaintiff, Incorporated Trustees of the Trustfield Empowerment Initiative at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The plaintiff in the suit raised issues about Maciver’s jail term still running over a criminal offence, hence the party’s governorship candidate, Sylva does not have a valid running-mate for the election.

The plaintiff also queried INEC to allow Maciver to become a running-mate to Sylva knowing quite alright that Maciver is serving a criminal jail term.

The court summon leaked through an insider working at the court, indicates:

1. Whether having regard to the provisions of Sections 175(1), 182(1)(d) and (2)(c) and 187 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended) and in view of the conviction of the 2nd Defendant for a sentence of imprisonment, the 1st Defendant does not have any valid candidate as his associate for his running for the office of Governor of Bayelsa State in the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election?
2. Whether having regard to the combined provisions of Sections 175(1), 182(1)(d) & (2)(c) and 187(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), the recognition and listing of the 2nd Defendant, who is under a sentence of imprisonment, without Presidential Pardon, as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the 1st Defendant in the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election is illegal, unlawful, null and a gross violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended)?
3. Whether upon the community reading of the provisions of Sections 175(1), 182(1)(d) & (2)(c) and 187(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), the 2nd Defendant having been convicted for a criminal offence with a sentence of imprisonment, without Presidential Pardon, is not eligible to be recognised or listed by the 3rd Defendant (INEC) as the associate of the 1st Defendant for his running for the office of Governor of Bayelsa State in the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election?
4. Whether in view of the conviction of the 2nd Defendant for a term of imprisonment, his recognition by the 3rd Defendant (INEC) as the associate and running mate of the 1st Defendant for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election is not at variance with the Constitution of the Federal of Nigeria, null and void ab initio?

WHEREOF the Plaintiff seeks the following Reliefs:

(a) A DECLARATION that in view of the conviction of the 2nd Defendant for a sentence of imprisonment, the 1st Defendant does not have any valid candidate as his associate for his running for the office of Governor of Bayelsa State in the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election.

(b) A DECLARATION that recognition and listing of the 2nd Defendant, who is under a sentence of imprisonment, without Presidential Pardon, as the Deputy Governorship candidate of the 1st Defendant in the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election is illegal, unlawful, null and a gross violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as Amended), null and void ab initio.

(c) A DECLARATION that the 2nd Defendant having been convicted for a criminal offence with a sentence of imprisonment, without Presidential Pardon, is not eligible to be recognised or listed by the 3rd Defendant (INEC) as the associate of the 1st Defendant for his running for the office of Governor of Bayelsa State in the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election.

(d) A DECLARATION that in view of the conviction of the 2nd Defendant for a term of imprisonment, his recognition by the 3rd Defendant (INEC) as the associate and running mate of the 1st Defendant for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election is at variance with the Constitution of the Federal of Nigeria, null and void ab initio.

(e) AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the 3rd Defendant (INEC) by itself, agents, servants, privies or howsoever described from recognising, listing, publishing or in any other manner whatsoever according any recognition to the 2nd Defendant as the associate and running mate of the 1st Defendant for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election.

When the issue of Locus Standi was raised by one of the journalists, the Lawyers said

“LOCUS STANDI

THE CASE IN QUESTION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PRIMARY ELECTION, NOMINATION OR SPONSORSHIP OF A CANDIDATE IN AN ELECTION. THIS IS WERE THE ISSUE OF LOCUS CAN BE RAISED.”

“IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PRIMARY ELECTION OF THE APC CANDIDATE OR SPONSORSHIP OF THE APC CANDIDATE IN THE ELECTION.”

“IT IS PURELY A CASE OF CONSTITUTIONAL INTERPRETATION. IT HAS TO DO WITH THE INTERPRETATION OF WHETHER SOMEONE WHO IS UNDER A LEGAL DISABILITY OF A COURT SENTENCE OR IMPRISONMENT CAN VALUDLY BE A RUNNING MATE IN AN ELECTION IN VIOLATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA.”

“IT IS PURELY A QUESTION OF THE INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION, IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PRIMARY ELECTION WHERE A LOCUS NEEDS TO BE ESTABLISHED.

THE CASE BOTHERS ON CORRUPTION.”

“THE CASE ALSO BOTHERS ON INTERPRETATION WHICH MEANS THAT ANYBODY HAS A LOCUS TO APPLY TO THE COURT TO INTERPRETE THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION.”

“AN NGO HAS THE LOCUS TO APPROACH THE COURT TO SEEK IF THE CONSTITUTION IS BEEN VIOLATED VIS-A-VIS THE MATTER.”