ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-In a groundbreaking move, human rights group have issued an open letter Nigerian democartic forces calling for a radical transformation of the country’s electoral process and governance.
The petitioners, represented by organizations such as the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Ekwenche Research Institute, Civil Liberties Organization, and the South-East Based Coalition of Democracy and Human Rights Organizations, emphasize the collective responsibility to save Nigerian democracy.
The democratic forces include Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), led by Joe Ajaero as President, Festus Osifo, President Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, President Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other heads of major labor unions, political parties, and respected civil rights organizations.
The groups made the call in a press release made available to voiceofnaija.ng, by Emeka Umeagbalasi, the Board Chairman, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law.
He opined that the Nigerian electoral process and public governance must no longer be left in the hands of judicial officers, electoral umpire and political actors alone.
It highlights rampant corruption among judicial officers and proposes comprehensive reforms, urging the active involvement of non-state democratic forces in safeguarding democracy.
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This is even as the groups called for the removal of regular court judges from electoral courts, backed by a thorough investigation revealing their involvement as a conduit for corruption.
The call to action extends to international scrutiny of judicial appointments, emphasizing the pivotal role of democratic accountability in shaping the nation’s future.
It added that the current electoral process, riddled with corruption and flaws, demands urgent attention.
The letter emphasizes the detrimental impact of involving regular court judges in electoral matters, citing a staggering 70 per cent reduction in corruption if removed.
The groups called for an end to the passive role of non-state democratic forces, proposing expanded industrial actions with a focus on saving Nigerian democracy.
The letter doesn’t stop at critique; it lays out a comprehensive roadmap for legal and electoral reforms. Proposals range from the professionalization and departmentalization of electoral courts to a unicameral legislature with equitable representation based on population density. It challenges the nomination of certain judicial candidates and aims for international scrutiny, even pushing for the blacklisting of individuals engaged in acts endangering democracy.
As the petitioners highlight the imminent departure of key officials, such as the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the INEC Chair, they caution against the appointment of individuals compromising democracy.
The letter warns against the precarious state of the nation, where economic stability hinges on foreign and domestic borrowings. It points to the proposed 2024 government budget, revealing a stark reality where the country risks collapse without significant reforms.
The narrative weaves through issues of corruption, questionable judicial appointments, and the necessity for leaders to transcend religious and ethnic affiliations in safeguarding the nation’s democratic principles.
The groups however, propose the establishment of special electoral courts manned by legal practitioners with a background in electoral and human rights laws.