CACOBAG Hails Justice Umar’s Decision, Says “We Have Been Vindicated”
The Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance CACOBAG hails the recent decision by Justice Umar. It has vindicated the our earlier condemnation of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC guidelines as unlawful and unconstitutional.
CACOBAG had previously rejected the guidelines, warning that they were part of a clandestine plan by INEC to force the anti-people and corrupt government of President Tinubu on Nigerians for a second term.Nigerians and political aspirants are urged to disregard the directives and continue to freely choose their political parties.
CACOBAG Chairman, Prince Toyin Raheem, said it emphatically at the time that the guidelines would not stand. Justice Umar’s decision has confirmed what we knew all along, that INEC acted outside the law in an attempt to manipulate the political process.
We rely on Section 1 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended which states ,
” If any other law is inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution, this Constitution shall prevail, and that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void”.
Any rule, order, or guideline inconsistent with the Constitution is null and void. We commend Justice Umar for upholding the supremacy of the Constitution and the legal rights of the Nigerian people.
Comrade Kolawole Bello, speaking for the Campaign for Democratic Justice Centre for Democracy and Justice CDJ, an affiliate of CACOBAG also condemned INEC’s anti-people approach when the guidelines were released.
At CACOBAG, we stand by our actions and remain confident that the truth will prevail, even if not immediately. This judgment is proof that standing on the side of the people and the Constitution pays off.
For 26 years, CACOBAG has played an active role in the struggle against corruption and bad governance as an independent, self-financing organisation. We owe no allegiance to any individual or government other than God, the country, and the Nigerian people..Our activities , interventions and programmes are not funded by any government or donor agency since year 2000 to date. We raise funds through patriotic Nigerians and subscriptions of members that are able to pay.
Under no circumstance shall we allow any person, party, or government to take Nigerians for a ride for the sake of selfish ambition. INEC, Amupitan, and even the President are not above the law and can not force any guidelines that are inimical to the interest of majority of Nigerians on the people.
We hail Justice Umar as one of the few justices consistently aligning with the people’s legal rights and express confidence that his name would remain indelible in Nigeria’s history as a defender of democracy.
Signed
Comrade Idowu Taiwo
Secretary, CACOBAG
08057877496
Prince Toyin Raheem
Chairman , CACOBAG
08023407814
