By Jonathan Elendu
Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Yakubu Mahmood is ready to go to jail rather than recognise the Supreme Court recognised Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Edozie Njoku.
Recall that the FCT High Court, Bwari, had on the 9th of November, found Yakubu Mahmood and former chairman of APGA, Victor Oye, guilty of contempt for disobeying the Court’s order restraining Oye from parading himself as National Chairman of APGA and restraining INEC from participating in any Congresses and Conventions organised by Oye.
“For the avoidance of doubt and for the purpose of clarity, parties herein whether by themselves, agents, privies, assigns, authorized representatives or whosoever acting on their behalf are restrained from holding the planned Congresses, National Convention or any other meetings or gatherings in whatever name called of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) pending the hearing of notice of preliminary objection filed on May 9, 2023 by the 1st Defendant/Applicant,” Justice Madugu ordered on May 10th.
Victor Oye and INEC did not appeal that judgment but went ahead to organise Congresses and Convention where Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, governor of Anambra State had one of his assistants elected Chairman of APGA.
In furtherance of their scheme to thwart the judgment of Justice Madugu Mohammed, members of the Oye installed National Working Committee invaded INEC headquarters from November 14th to 16th, “moving from one office to the other,” according to an INEC official with knowledge of what transpired.
On Wednesday, 15th November, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo was at INEC. “The man came and went straight to the Chairman’s office where they talked for a long time.”
A source at the Legal department of INEC told this reporter that they had assurances that Justice Madugu’s sentencing of Mahmood and Oye slated for 29th November will not happen. “Our oga told us that the governor assured the chairman that everything is being done to see that Madugu will not give the sentence. They said that their people at the Appeal Court have given them all the assurances.”
A few months ago we had reported on Prof Yakubu Mahmood’s threat that Edozie Njoku will only be the chairman of APGA when his term at INEC was over. A threat he repeated this week.
The two sources we spoke to when we did our initial reporting had wondered why the INEC chairman was taking APGA issues personal instead of professionally.
“We obey Court orders no matter who it favours. And the Supreme Court’s judgement on this issue is very clear. Victor Oye’s name is deleted from that judgment yet Mahmood acts as if there’s some ambiguity or room to manoeuvre. There’s none. If we had an honest Judiciary we would have been disgraced out of here and some will be in jail, led by the chairman,” some INEC officials told us today.
A few hours after Justice Madugu Mohammed gave his judgment on May 9th, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo held a meeting with his APGA caucus in Anambra. He told them, according to a source at the meeting, that he had done everything he could to keep APGA in Anambra state. He reiterated an earlier vow to leave APGA as soon as Edozie Njoku is recognised by INEC as chairman.
The Anambra governor, to garner sympathy, has been telling people at the top echelon of government and Judiciary that Edozie Njoku was being sponsored by those who want to remove him as governor.
An APGA chieftain, responding to Soludo’s claim said: “Its a wonder that a professor can be this foolish. We have extended a hand of fellowship to him, even the founder of this party made overtures to Soludo. He rebuffed him.
“We are aware he’s had meetings with APC although we know he’s actually a PDP member. He’s too drunk on power and self-importance.
“How can we dethrone the only governor we have. It defies commonsense. But I must tell you, commonsense is a commodity Soludo has in short supply.”
Prof Mahmood and Oye are supposed to be sentenced on November 29th for being found guilty of contempt of court.
“A court does not make an order in vain; a court order must not be disobeyed. Disobedience to a valid court order undermines the integrity and sanctity of the court.
“This insanity of flouting court order must stop, and it cannot continue. The disobedience to the order made by this court on May 10, is undoubtedly an affront on the sanctity of the court,” Justice Madugu stated.
