Court’s Verdict In Favour Of Natasha Akpoti Vindicates Me, Sani Michael Omakoji, Reacts.

You recall that one of our reliable columnists, Sani Michael Omakoji, on 14th October 2019 says, “if Nigeria is a working society, Governor Yahaya Bello stands automatically disqualified to contest any elective position in Nigeria over his involvement in INEC’s double registration saga instead of Barrister Natasha Akpoti”.

Sani Michael Omakoji, made this assertion while reacting to Barrister Natasha Akpoti’s disqualification from Kogi Nov 16 Gubernatorial Election cum Governor Yahaya Bello INEC’s double registration.

Let us read his epic epistle:

” Today, our Judiciary which many say is on a live support has at Federal High Court Abuja vindicated me over my reaction why Barrister Natasha Akpoti of Social Democratic Party (SDP) was disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) over a trivial issue that his deputy in Person of Engr. Khalidu Adams Ogbeohe, did not meet the constitutional age requirement to contest as a deputy Governor.

In reference to Natasha Akpoti’s live video streaming on facebook some time in the past, she did alert the the general public that INEC rejected her deputy base on what they called “under age to contest…” despite fielding in Aspirants below her deputy’s age in the 2019 general elections.

She added that she appealed to INEC to substitute her deputy as provided by 2010 Electoral Act as Amended but INEC in disobedience to the ACT refused to grant her application.

‘An act I considered as an injustice against the candidate of SDP, Barrister Natasha Akpoti’.

Since Nigerian Laws make provision for candidate substitution, why on earth should INEC refused Natasha Akpoti’s apllication to substitute her deputy?

Really in a sane society, many will find it difficult to addmit INEC’s position.

Perhaps, social media was agong when Barrister Natasha Akpoti again posted a video on her official facebook page where a staff of INEC addmitted that, “Natasha Akpoti’s deputy rejection was based on instruction from HIGHER AUTHORITY”

Who could be this HIGHER AUTHORITY you may ask? well, your guess can/ could be as good as mine!

However, after a long legal battle, the Federal High Court in Abuja led by Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo Giwa today being 7th November 2019, ordered the INEC to restore Barrister Natasha Akpoti of SDP on ballot paper in the forthcoming November 16 election in Kogi State.

This judgement of course has vindicated my postion in one of my articles in which I said ‘INEC’s act was unconstitutional and injustice against the candidate of SDP

Read His Earlier Reaction Here:  Sani Michael Omakoji In A Brief Reaction To Barrister Natasha Akpoti’s Suit Against Governor Yahaya Bello Over INEC Double Registration Saga

To digress a little, I hope this INEC will obey court order this time around not to act Zamfara or Rivers scenario in Kogi where they disobeyed court order to act their wish!

While giving thump up to Judiciary on this landmark judgement, one also wonders while the same Judiciary cannot/couldn’t disqualify Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who is standing trial over INEC’s double registration?

Again some of us who are ardent followers of democracy all over the world also wonder why INEC would sack her two staff who were involved in Governor Bello’s double registration scandals but overlook the main actor, Governor Yahaya Bello to go about unpunished?

Most disturbing is the fact that after INEC boasted sometimes in May 2017 to deal with Governor Yahaya Bello should he seek for any elective position in future; the same INEC has cleared Governor Yahaya Bello to contest Kogi November 16 gubernatorial election.

Nigerians who have been following this development with keen interest are also asking if INEC has thrown Nigerian constitution to the dustbin to overlook Governor Yahaya Bello’s act which is/was against Nigerian constitution?

More also, is Nigerian Judiciary on holiday on this issue or the case “lack substance” as some Nigerian Judges normally put?

Amisdt of all these unanswered questions, One of Nigerian finest SANs, Jibrin Sam Okutepa once says “As the court of Appeal put it quoting Harry Nwana: “If a revolution should occur in Nigeria, it may not be because injustice was done, but because no civilised legal redress is available to the injured. If and when that happens our judiciary and our politicians who impede justice must hold themselves accountable. The politicians may do as they like, and their parties may abuse the system as they think fit but let it be known that when the judiciary is suffocated and the poor and the lowly cannot look up to it for basis justice the last hope of the common man would have been extinguished”.

As I conclude, let me state that ‘if Nigeria is not yet an “Animal Farm Society” but a democratic setting as we claim, we demand equal justice, equal right, and quick dispensation of justice to all Nigerians else, we are joking yet and when it shall boomerang, the elites who are championing injustice today would be the most targeted by the wounded masses as they have as at today clamped down the institutions of good governance handed down by our founding Fathers for their selfish enterprise’.

Sani Michael Omakoji
Public Affairs Commentator on both
Local & International Issues

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