Politics

Nigerian appelate court voids judgement on Section 84(12) of Electoral Act

Published

3 years ago

May 11, 2022

A Court of Appeal in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Wednesday, voided an earlier judgement by a Federal High Court that nullified a controversial section in the country’s Electoral Act 2022 which bars political appointees from seeking elective office or voting as delegates in party primaries unless they resign from their positions.

The contentious section of the Electoral Act, Section 84(12), stipulates that “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

The Wednesday ruling by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal set aside an earlier judgment on
March 18 by Justice Evelyn Anyadike of a Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State in South-East Nigeria, which voided the provision of Section 8412) of the Electoral Act.

The appellate court in a judgment by a three-member panel headed by Justice Hamma Akawu Barka, held that the Umuahia division of the federal court had no jurisdiction to have entertained the case instituted by a plaintiff, Nduka Edede, arguing that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to have filed the suit in the first place.

The Appeal Court added that Edede did not establish any cause of action to have warranted his approaching the court on the issue because he did not establish that he was directly affected by the provision.

In delivering its judgment, the three-member panel of the appellate court headed by Justice Hamma Barka, held that the Umuahia court lacked jurisdiction to have adjudicated on the suit.

Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had brought an ex-parte application before a Federal High Court in Abuja challenging a directive given to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari to remove the section of the Electoral Act.

The PDP had sought an order of the court restraining the National Assembly from effecting President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to remove section 84 (12) from the Electoral Act.

The PDP had challenged the legality or otherwise of the National Assembly tinkering with the Electoral Act, after it had been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Following the application, Justice Iyang Ekwo of the federal high court on March 7, had given a ruling restraining the President, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Senate President Ahmad Lawan from tampering with the 2022 Electoral Act which was signed into law early in the year.

Related Topics:Court of Appeal Electoral Act Featured Nigeria

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.